Chris Gekker is Professor of Trumpet at the University of Maryland School of Music. He appears as soloist on more than thirty recordings and on more than one hundred chamber, orchestral, jazz, and commercial recordings. Formerly a member of the American Brass Quintet, principal trumpet of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and on the faculties of The Juillard School, Manhattan School of Music, and Columbia University. In 2018 he was named a Distinguished University Professor, the first from Maryland’s School of Music to receive this honor.
Acclaimed American trumpet player Chris Gekker has just made his second album for Métier, the new-music division of Divine Art Recordings. This collection of new and recent works (all but one are world premiere recordings) by a range of American composers including Richard Auldon Clark, Carson Cooman and Lance Hulme, demonstrates the mellow and lyrical aspect of the trumpet. Chris Gekker uses descriptions such as “warmly expressive” and “hauntingly beautiful”. However even though the album is largely ‘laid-back’ it’s never lacking in depth, meaning and ‘soul’.
Adding to the richness of the sound world Chris Gekker is joined by pianist Rita Sloan (who also featured strongly in the previous Gekker album) , violist Katherine Murdock and oboist Mark Hill, and several members of the musically talented Gekker family: Suzanne (clarinet), Jason (double bass) and Lianna (piano).
The works here are wonderfully sonorous, harmonically conservative and will appeal to classical music lovers and also fans of soft lounge jazz.
The album is titled ‘Moon Marked’ and will be released in May 2020 on Métier (MSV 28605).
Moon Marked
Recorded at Dekelboum Concert Hall, University of Maryland on various dates in late 2019 except:
Variations and Fugue on a theme by Brahms (same venue, recorded 2011)
Moon Marked, recorded at Spencerville Seventh Day Adventist Church 2019
Works
… and justice for all? (Richard Auldon Clark) for trumpet, viola and double bass
Elegy for a Sultry Summer Afternoon (Lance Hulme) for trumpet and piano
Moon Marked (Carson Cooman) for trumpet and clarinet
Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Brahms (Eric Ewazen) for flugelhorn and piano
Divertimento (Richard Auldon Clark) for trumpet, oboe and viola
Acquainted with the Night (Alistair Coleman) for trumpet and piano
Peace on Earth (Franklin Kiermyer) for trumpet, clarinet, double bass and piano
Performers
Chris Gekker (trumpet and flugelhorn)
Katherine Murdock (viola)
Mark Hill (oboe)
Suzanne Gekker (clarinet)
Jason Gekker (double bass)
Lianna Gekker (piano)
Rita Sloan (piano)
Previously on Divine Art: Ghost Dialogues (MSV 28572)
Chris Gekker is a master of his instrument. His technique is impeccable: The Metier recording is so clear one can hear every detail of attack. In addition, there is a real musical intelligence at work, here coupled with a fervent belief in the music he plays. This is a most varied recital, then, caught in superb sound. The combination of technique, taste, and musicianship is remarkable.”
The American Prize’s Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for the Performance of American Music was announced today, and TWO Divine Art artists tied for 2nd Place for their performances released on Métier! Congratulations to both Chris Gekker for his award for his performances on Ghost Dialogues, and Ian Mitchell for his performances on Isn’t This a Time?: American Music for Clarinet! See the full announcement on The American Prize website.
Among the plethora of chamber music discs featuring strings and woodwind soloists, the brass section seems still to be given relatively less attention except for early and baroque works. A new album from Métier presents a range of new works for trumpet by American composers, performed by Chris Gekker, acclaimed soloist who is also Professor of Trumpet at the University of Maryland. All approachable and melodic works though varied in style and presentation, these are all first recordings and include works by Robert Gibson, Carson Cooman, Lance Hulme, David Heinick and Kevin McKee. Performers alongside Gekker will include Rita Sloan (piano), Chris Vadala (tenor sax), and Clara O’Brien (mezzo-soprano). To be released in July 2017 (Métier MSV 28572).
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