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Minnesota Orchestra trumpeter branches out

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Charles Lazarus serenades the city from his balcony. Lazarus, a trumpeter with the Minnesota Orchestra, steps outside the classical repertoire on his new cd, "Solo Settings." (MPR photo/Chris Roberts)
36-year-old Charles Lazarus plays trumpet for the Minnesota Orchestra. But for Lazarus, the orchestral repertoire isn't the only music that matters. His new CD displays a stylistic range that extends well beyond the classical canon.

Minneapolis, Minn. — Charles Lazarus can play the Haydn Trumpet Concerto with the best of them, but when he was younger he used to listen to Miles Davis solos until he could repeat them note for note.

The North Carolina born and Julliard-trained Lazarus has played in rock bands, big bands, trumpet quintets, brass ensembles and full orchestras. All those styles and influences jockey for position on his new CD, "Solo Settings."

"I started thinking about what I enjoyed listening to and what would make me want to go to a concert, and thought it would be fun to try to create music that's accessible, that's very groove oriented and very melody driven but yet that was creative," he says. "And I just tried to borrow elements from all these different styles."

Lazarus's CD has crossover written all over it.

The music spans new age, straight ahead jazz, world music and more classically oriented, original works. Three of the tracks are rearrangements of movements from St. Paul composer Steve Heitzeg's Nobel Symphony.

On a piece called "Soldier's Silent Reverie," Lazarus is accompanied by a 14-member string orchestra. Lazarus plays fourth trumpet in the Minnesota Orchestra. He's like a utility player on a baseball team, moving around within the trumpet section and playing different parts depending on what the piece requires. When he's not needed he's on call.

Lazarus has used his somewhat sporadic schedule to flex his other musical muscles. Orchestra Vice President and General Manager Bob Neu says not many musicians at the orchestral level have branched out the way Lazarus has.

"The variety he has within his technique is pretty amazing," he says. "It's not singular, but it's pretty amazing.

Neu says the orchestra supports Lazarus' diverse musical life. It even allowed him to take a seven month leave and perform with the prestigious Canadian Brass. Neu says the orchestra has an "if you love them, let them go" philosophy regarding its musicians.

"Why not give them the opportunity because inevitably it seems when they come back to this orchestra, they're even more devoted to the orchestra then they ever were," he says. "And they've taken the name of the Minnesota Orchestra out there with them."

Neu believes Lazarus' side projects enhance his abilities with the orchestra. Lazarus has found that to be true.

"Playing jazz helps me be more sound in pitch and line oriented when I play classical music," he says. "It makes me think less technically. And playing classical music makes me hopefully have a better sound and be a little more refined playing jazz so, it's like this giant snowball that feeds on itself."

The release of "Solo Settings" is not an indication Lazarus is preparing to head out on his own. He says on the contrary he couldn't be happier with the flexibility he has with the orchestra, and hopes to make his current position, his career. He'll unveil his new CD this Thursday night just a couple blocks away from Orchestra Hall at the Dakota Bar and Grill in Minneapolis.

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