David Zerkel’s first CD, Something Old, Something New was the winner of the Roger Bobo Award for solo tuba  recording in 2006.  His new album, Tuba Helper, continues the same high standard he set 2 years ago. Tuba Helper is another fine display of Zerkel’s magnificent tone and effortless playing and also serves  as a platinum example of several pieces of repertoire that have served tuba students for years.

Musically speaking, the entire album is very tastefully done.  By design, there is nothing shocking or boundary-pushing in the performance.  Tempos are all in the right spot, neither too fast nor too slow.  Intonation and rhythm are impeccable.  Interpretations are all spot on, creating an appropriate mood for each piece.  The programming is very balanced between baroque, classical, romantic and modern eras.  Paolo Gualdi’s piano playing is superb, providing lots of sparkle and color.  The balance between performers is captured very well in the recording.  

The program on the album is (in order):

Haddad - Suite for Tuba and Piano

Capuzzi -  Andante and Rondo

Marcello - Sonata Nr. 1 in F

Vaughan-Williams - Six Studies in English Folksong

Hartley - Suite for Unaccompanied Tuba

Bach - Air and Bourree

The album strikes one as being a solid recital program of standard material that most of us have  heard at least a couple of times, but the true brilliance of this CD lies in the educational value for developing tuba players.  The idea for the album came from the fact that there aren’t a lot of recordings available of a lot of the rep (except for maybe the Vaughan-Williams Six Studies) being used by college-age tubists.  Zerkel has helped to fill that void.  Of note is the fact that he went the extra step in recording all the pieces on his CC tuba, the instrument most students are playing when learning these pieces.  The aim is to help the students develop a sound concept of the pieces when played with sound fundamentals and good musicality, thus giving them a realistic goal to shoot for in their practice and performance.  Zerkel nailed the intention of this project and has put forth an outstanding example for students to follow.

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