Terell Stafford: Le Maurier

"Le Maurier" is the second movement of Terell Stafford's New Beginnings Suite and is dedicated to Jon Faddis, a renowned trumpeter and mentor to Stafford. The composition is well written, with a slow, pensive melody, and Stafford's flugelhorn tone is a near-perfect match for the piece. It blends almost seamlessly with Dick Oatts's alto and, when Stafford plays alone, is reminiscent of the human voice. Stafford's solo is brief but awe-inspiring. Rather than playing to impress, Stafford carefully constructs a heartfelt melody as he floats over the chord changes. The rhythm section provides a slightly busier accompaniment when Oatts enters and offers his interpretation. At the close of Oatts's beautiful solo, the trumpeter introduces a background figure and Oatts joins him. They end the tune in unison, and Stafford plays a tasteful cadenza over the closing chords.