Blackout


Trombone soloist, Dr. Brett Baker, reviews one of two recent DaHaske recordings from National Champions, Cory.

Blackout

Cory Band

Conductor: Philip Harper
DaHaske DHR03-062-3

I am not always impressed by albums produced to showcase music of well-known publishers. However, as a fan of both Cory and Philip Sparke’s music, I sat back to enjoy this new release from De Haske.

Opening with Second to None, commissioned by the British Corps of Army Music to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of its foundation, the title comes from the motto of the Corps - Nulli Secundus and, in typical upbeat Sparke fashion, the CD is off to a rousing start!

As If a Voice Were in Them - a substantial work from Oliver Waespi commissioned by the Swiss Band Association in 2014, follows showcasing a razor-sharp trombone section. I really enjoyed this track. Etienne Crausaz’s The Last night of Fall is a great addition to any concert programme and, in total contrast to the Waespi test-piece comes Stephen Bulla’s very cheeky Irish Dances.

The disc includes arrangements from Philip Sparke in the form of a solo played impeccably by Cory’s former tenor horn, Owen Farr, aided by interjections from Cory’s Principal Cornet, Tom Hutchinson, as well as the flugel solo by George Shearing, arranged by Tinner and performed by Stephanie Wilkins.

There are also substantial original works from Jacob de Haan (his three-movement Bliss, for instance, containing three impressions of a village in Brabant, The Netherlands) and the 2015 Challenge Section European test-piece, Origenes by Carlos Cárdenas, which proves to be a very interesting composition, as does Thomas Doss’s title-track, Blackout.

Arrangements include Welcome to the Jungle, arranged Paul Murtha, and A Christmas Night, arranged Marc Jeanbourquin, though these
do not sit comfortably together on the same album. My criticism would be that the pieces do not seem to produce a well-formed blend of compositions illustrated, for example, by the inclusion of a Christmas item as the final track offering on a non-festive album.

That said, this is a substantial CD played by the world’s top ranked band, sounding very much on form and featuring fresh music, all of which would complement a band’s programme in 2016.

Programme 3/5
Performance 4/5
Recording 4/5
Presentation 4/5