Concert: All-Star Brass for Africa

Stars align for Africa
All-Star Brass for Africa

Conductors: Ryan Richards and Richard Evans

St. Paul’s Church, Birmingham

14 March


Organised and conducted by Rath Artist and Solo Trombone of Tredegar Town Band, Ryan Richards, an impressive array of brass performers from bands throughout the country, such as Black Dyke, Grimethorpe, Foden’s, Tredegar, Milnrow, Leyland and Desford Colliery, gathered in the picturesque St. Paul’s Church to perform a concert in aid of the Brass for Africa charity.

Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s Enter the Galaxies seized the attention of the audience in spectacular fashion, offering a glimpse of the quality yet to come in items such as Little Hymn, Bugler’s Holiday and Shine as the Light. It was,
however, the solo items that proved to be the highlight of the evening.

Cornet soloist, Richard Marshall, delivered Virtuosity with true panache, contrasted by Nick Hudson’s deliciously smooth rendition of the trombone solo, Stardust. Napoli, meanwhile, was executed to perfection on tenor horn by Owen Farr - his technical flourishes delighting the considerable audience.

The second half burst into life with a lively Valero, featuring the flugel horn talents of Danny Winder; before Brass for Africa Ambassador, Richard Evans, led the band through On the Quarter Deck, with his characteristic swagger showcased to the full! Continuing the theme of fine solo performances euphonium soloist, Matthew White, effortlessly delivered the considerable challenges of ‘Neath the Dublin Skies. Les Neish proceeded to astonish the audience with the technical ability he can achieve on tuba through
a soaring Czardas. The rich sound and expressiveness of the band was evident in the finale of I’ll Walk with God, so much so that the audience called for an encore, and the concert was rounded off with an electrifying rendition of MacArthur Park.

The enthusiastic audience was certainly satisfied by a well-directed concert from Ryan Richards, organised as part of his studies at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Despite limited rehearsal time, the level of quality around the stands ensured the band acquitted itself superbly, whilst raising several hundreds of pounds for a very worthwhile charity.

THOMAS DUNNE

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