After Hours for Trumpet and Piano: Trumpet and Piano Book & CD

Wedgwood's eight pieces offer something rare at the intermediate level: genuine jazz and contemporary idioms without oversimplification. The accompanying CD transforms solo practice into something closer to real ensemble playing, and the dual-track format (full performance with marimba melody plus backing track alone) respects players' need to both learn the part and perform it independently.

The collection evokes late-night jazz clubs and introspective moods without demanding virtuosity. Wedgwood's harmonies are colorful and sophisticated; the pieces have space, restraint, and a genuine atmospheric quality that makes them feel like listening in on a small ensemble rather than practicing scales.

Intermediate trumpet players looking to develop musicality and stylistic range beyond classical etudes and standard repertoire. These pieces work well for students nearing the end of their first or second year of study, and for those preparing recital material that bridges classical technique and contemporary expression.

• Listen to the full performance track several times before attempting to play along. Notice how the trumpet line sits within the harmonic context and where rubato or slight timing shifts occur.
• When working with the backing track only, reference the piano score regularly to hear the harmonic movement even when you're carrying the melody.
• Treat the atmospheric quality of these pieces seriously. Control dynamics carefully and let the piano accompaniment breathe; these aren't pieces that benefit from pushing the sound.
• Use the marimba versions as a learning tool, but don't let them replace your own musical decision-making about phrasing and articulation once the melody is secure.

These eight pieces work beautifully as a complete solo recital program or as a curated segment within a longer concert of diverse styles. Program them in the second half of a performance to shift the mood, or use individual pieces as transitions between contrasting classical or contemporary works.

• Phrasing in jazz idioms and understanding swing rhythm vs. straight rhythm
• Accompanying awareness and listening to harmonic movement while sustaining a melody
• Stylistic interpretation and responding to atmospheric context rather than technical demands
• Rhythmic flexibility and rubato within jazz frameworks
• Dynamic control and subtle articulation choices that define modern jazz expression