Reviewed by Stephen Luff

Canadian trumpeter Jens Lindeman has won many awards and nominations during his career as well as an honorary doctorate; he is generally regarded as one of the world's most celebrated trumpet soloists. Right from the start with "Dreaming Of The Masters", with its opening notes on the trumpet, it's not hard to hear why. Jens manages to combine both energy and tenderness throughout the album; the latter is demonstrated on "Amazing Grace" which, although familiar to many, will still raise the hairs on the back of your neck, while energy infuses the track "Arophenia". Although beautifully played, Queen's "Who Wants To Live Forever" doesn't sit too well amongst tracks like the worshipful "Give Me Jesus" which closes the album. The musical partnership works wonderfully well with Foden's Band adding rich passages to Jens' virtuoso performance.

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This project began a few years ago at a festival in Italy where I first met the legendary tuba soloist and conductor James Gourlay. He suggested collaborating and set this project in motion. My first performance with Foden’s Band was made possible five years earlier by my good friend and brass enthusiast extraordinaire, Philip Biggs. So when James suggested the possibility of using the same group to record this CD, I jumped at the opportunity.

Foden’s has long been considered one of the world’s greatest groups in the storied tradition of the brass band genre. This was intentionally designed as a crossover project between North American style playing and the classic sound of a true British brass band. Doing a recording of original material requiring stylistic flexibility and unparalleled virtuosity would need the perfect band... a band like Foden’s. - Jens Lindemann