tenThing - 10 (2012)

Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth founded tenThing, the self-described all-girl brass ensemble, in 2007 when she was just 20, and this 2012 EMI release is its debut album. It's made up mostly of transcriptions of orchestral, piano, vocal, and chamber music. Helseth describes the group's efforts as fun and that sense of fun come across palpably and fluently in the playing. The virtuosic performances are lively and uninhibited but avoid crossing the line into schmaltz, which with some of this music, it could easily do, particularly in the selections from The Threepenny Opera. The ten-piece ensemble plays with brisk precision, velvety legato, and an impressive array of coloristic variety. The skillful arrangements of mostly familiar works by Bizet, Albéniz, Piazzolla, Grieg, and Mozart, were made specifically for the group by Jarle Storløkken. The two works written originally for brass ensemble are by modern Dutch composer Jan Koetsier. The sound of the enhanced CD is clean and present, with a good balance between warmth and brightness. It's an attractive collection that should have strong appeal for fans of brass music.