Ray Stewart's brass quintet reviewed on NPR

Ray Stewart (School of Music) is a member and co-founder of the group, Meridian Arts Ensemble, which was recently featured on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered." Tom Manoff of NPR reviewed the group's latest CD, "Timbrando," during the program. His article, "Brass With A Twist," in which he confesses not to really like brass recordings except at Christmas, is posted online. Manoff has a change of heart, he notes. "Looks like my troubles with recorded brass music are over," he writes. "Now, I'm waiting for the Meridian Arts Ensemble's Christmas album, and its Easter album. I'll even take a photo album from these guys. They're that good."

The Meridian Arts Ensemble is a brass quintet and percussion which formed in 1987. "We are still at it today," Stewart, who teaches tuba in the School of Music, said. "Timbrando" is the group's ninth CD.