John Donne, thinking of judgment day, famously envisioned trumpets blowing "at the round earth's imagined corners," heralding the end of time for the "numberless infinities" of the dead. That most famous imaginary trumpet blast has, needless to say, fascinated composers throughout history, and was brought to mind, on more than one occasion, at this Park Lane Group concert featuring Bella Tromba, a glamorous all-trumpet girl band, dedicated to exploring and expanding the instrument's potential.

Whether they succeeded in fully making their case is questionable. They play with ritzy sophistication, noisily dispelling much of the rarefied atmosphere that characterises many PLG gigs. One was principally struck by the sameness of much of their programme rather than its diversity. Only the dynamic subtlety of Robin Holloway's Melody with Echo and the fluidity of Howard Skempton's Alveston took the ensemble into new territory, and one was forced to conclude that the trumpet, whether heard singly or in groups, is best deployed in concertos or orchestral music.

Bella Tromba shared the evening with Daniel Browell, a pianist of considerable intelligence and grace. He made much of Philip Venables' elegant The Boy With the Moon in His Eyes, but was at his absolute best in André Tchaikowsky's Inventions, a witty evocation of the composer's friends in the musical world.