Concert: Memories of Christmas
Foden's Band and Matthew Ford conducted by Michael FowlesSaturday 16th December
Memories of Christmas
Foden's Band and Matthew Ford
Conductor: Michael Fowles
Clonter Opera, Congleton
Saturday 16th December
Anyone attending this concert who had already listened to BBW's CD of the month for December, or heard this partnership together previously, knew what they were letting themselves in for.
Those that didn't? One thing for certain was come the end the concert, they were joining everybody else in the intimate setting of Clonter Opera to give a standing ovation after they'd been royally entertained by Foden's and Matthew Ford.
Ford is regarded as the finest big band singer in the UK and his long-standing friendship with Foden's' trombonist, John Barber has opened up new musical ideas for the band and vocalist to explore.
It was no wonder that some of the band who've been around the banding scene for quite some time openly admitted afterwards, that being involved in this collaboration is one of the best things they have ever done in banding.
Full marks go to John Barber, whose imagination and compositional skills ensured that not only did the listener hear Christmas classics (like they have never heard them before), but he knows exactly how to bring the best out of the band and vocalist.
John's fingerprints were all-over the majority of the twenty five pieces played. In addition to the arrangements, if he wasn't playing trombone in the band, he was sat at the piano accompanying both band and vocalist and he even found time to deliver a solo on the trombone himself – a very individual take on In the Bleak Mid Winter, retitled 'In the Blue Mid Winter'.
'Let it Snow', 'It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year' , 'It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas' and the classic '(I'm Dreaming of a) White Christmas', not forgetting the title track of the CD, 'Memories of Christmas', were all given the Ford and Foden's treatment. From the upbeat and suave and sophisticated, to the slow, slushy and seductive ballad, Ford's romantic timbre was an absolute joy to listen to with the musical chemistry between everyone on stage being electric.
The partnership is so refreshing and who knows what opportunities it could open up for both in time? You don't need to be a fan of brass bands to enjoy what's on offer here. One thing for sure, if this night is anything to go by, if you see an advert with them in concert, just go. You won't be disappointed.
MALCOLM WOOD
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