Concert: Brighouse & Rastrick
with Boobs and BrassHuddersfield Town Hall 24 March
Swansong for Boobs and Brass
Brighouse and Rastrick
Boobs and Brass
Conductors: Dr. David Thornton and Martin Dawson
Huddersfield Town Hall
24 March
Brighouse and Rastrick's spring massed bands concert was an opportunity for the National Champion to once more show off its musical prowess, as well as
to bid a formal farewell and welcome a new friend to the West Riding outfit. The farewell was to the magnificent musical ambassadors of Boobs and Brass - the all-female organisation that, since forming over a decade ago, has raised over £200,000 for Breast Cancer Now, but which is disbanding. It was no surprise that Huddersfield Town Hall was packed to the rafters to hear the pink-jacketed ladies, as well as salute them for their incredible achievements.
Also present to hear this truly great night of light-hearted entertainment was Brighouse’s new Honorary Vice-president, the highly respected celebrity chef and brass band fan, Brian Turner CBE. Thrilled at having the appointment bestowed upon him, Brian Turner’s first formal duty was to present a cheque to the founder members of the Boobs and Brass, Maggie Betts and Jane Nichols.
The music was split into three segments; the massed band items bookended the concert under the direction of David Thornton, whilst Brighouse and its esteemed guests delivered individual spots.
With over 80 players testing the acoustic of the ornate Victorian Huddersfield Town Hall, both bands were in fine form as they performed an eclectic mix of repertoire, including Mozart's overture The Marriage of Figaro, Duke Ellington's Caravan and Kenneth Downie's reflective In Perfect Peace.
Martin Dawson had the honour of fronting Boobs and Brass in a set that included Prismatic Light, Hot Stuff from the Full Monty and I'll Walk With God, which has become a musical anthem for the famous pink-jacketed Boobs and Brass ladies during their concerts. Flugel player, John Lee, had teamed up with Boobs and Brass a few years ago to record a CD from which all profits went to the charity. It was only fitting on this special night, therefore, that John took centre stage to perform Right There Waiting - at the end of which there wasn’t a dry eye in the hall!
With the National Challenge Trophy on display, Brighouse showcased the rarely-heard overture, Rossini's La Gazza Ladra, along with impressive solo spots from Philippe Schwartz and Mike Eccles.
The classic potboiler, Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and a lively run through of Bach's Toccata in D Minor concluded a superb evening.
MALCOLM WOOD
.gif)
