Album Notes

“A fine quintet set, a lot of stylistic diversity in the compositions, the package held together into an artistic whole by the versatality of the musicians. A must have CD for fans of the sax and trumpet in front of the rhythm section quintet mode…”
— Dan McClenaghan, AllAboutJazz.com

“Kelly returns in a wistful vein; shuffling gently, he doesn’t blow into his horn, he sighs. … The whole album comes at you like this – assertive, confident, and they do what they do very well.”
— Jazz Improv Magazine

“Here he is experimental, adventurous, and not at all tentative. … Rossum’s group is best when not playing it safe.”
— Thomas R. Erdmann, ITG Jazz Editor
Director of Bands
and Trumpet Professor
Elon University, Elon, North Carolina

“This is Kelly's first venture as a leader, [and] I was happy to hear the complexity and craftsmanship of his compositions on this recording. … You are in for a treat!.”
— Dr. Ron McCurdy, Professor of Music
University of Southern California
International Association of
Jazz Educators, President

“They say those who can't do, teach. Working to dispel that myth is Kelly Rossum, a Minneapolis trumpet player who has spent most of his adult life in musical academia. After teaching jazz at the University of Minnesota and [another university, incorrectly quoted], Rossum is stepping out as a bandleader. His debut disc, Party's Over/ Begun is a warm-and-smooth stew of sensitive balladry, dance-ready jazz waltzes and improvisational detours.”
— St. Paul Pioneer Press, July 26, 2002