Concert: Champions of Brass

It’s always been said that some of the best things are always worth waiting for. The global Covid-19 pandemic became the catalyst for Simon Gresswell and Sandy Smith to realise just how much they not only missed playing, but also wanted to share the stage with friends that they had played alongside and competed against previously.

The enforced break gave them the time to get a group of players and an MD together that had won numerous honours and titles within the genre. In addition to Simon and Sandy, principal players on stage included Alan Morrison, Kevin Crockford, Lucy Cutt, Morgan Griffiths and Shaun Crowther, amongst others, led by Garry Cutt. Although with the exception of a couple of pieces, the repertoire performed wasn’t modern-day, the group’s innate understanding of how to play various pieces, listen to each other, produce warmth of sound and the required balance was breathtaking.

Opening with Strike Up the Band, the following Weber’s Ruler of the Spirits overture sent the pulses raising, whilst the solo contributions in the first-half from Kevin Crockford (Emmanuel), Alan Morrison (Sugar Blues) and Lucy Cutt (Away in a Manger) were all delivered with that extra stamp of quality that players such as these have at their fingertips. Premières of Flora, Tubby Mousetrouser and Homepride from Chris Hazell’s popular ‘Cats’ suite (based on the feral friends that shared his home, arranged by Sandy Smith) and MacArthur Park left the healthy audience mesmerised.

More precision and expertise was on show after the interval, with seasonal music from the pens of Darrol Barry and Peter Graham, followed by the virtuoso account of Moto Perpetuo arranged for the concert and delivered by the euphonium duo of Morgan Griffiths and Michael Dodd. Trombonist, Nicholas Hudson,

produced an elegant account of Fly Me to the Moon, while Shaun Crowther interrupted his Bass in the Ballroom solo to engage with the audience and request a round of applause for his bass colleague, Geoff Harrop, unable to stand up and acknowledge the applause due to recent surgery.

To close, a romp through the Finale from Dvorak’s New World Symphony left enough time for MC, David Hoyle, to announce the encore, the appropriately named The Champions march.

Following in the footsteps of Men O’Brass, Virtuosi Brass and Kings of Brass, the concept may not be original, but if the opportunity arises again to enjoy the band in concert, grab it with both hands because you will be in for a treat and this night was certainly worth the wait!

MALCOLM WOOD

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