Youth Brass 2000 review - Classics performed with real polish in Harborough
Les Dodd reviews Youth Brass 2000 at Saint Dionysius Church on Saturday August 29
The talented Youth Brass 2000 made a most welcome return to Saint Dionysius Church to present a concert arranged in association with the Friends of the Church.
A delighted audience, spilling up into the upper galleries, were treated to the wonderful accomplished and talented musicianship of this predominantly young group of brass players.
Part of the programme included numbers from their recent successful concerts in London and Paris and they again emphasised why they are successful in the competitive world of brass playing.
Opening with the powerful dramatic Flyin' the Skies, the audience had a full demonstration of the band's talents, to which they added vocal contributions.
This was followed by the classic Harry James Trumpet Concerto with superb trumpet solo playing by the gifted Jack Strong. The other soloist in the first half was trombonist Oliver Canfield, who excelled in Sousa's Thoughts of Love, both giving performances that were much appreciated. They were interspersed with items from the tour – the fabulous Les Champs Elysees and three Disney classics including the memorable Lion King Suite. Pirates of the Caribbean and the kaleidoscopic medley of Disney Around the World.
Death or Glory, a brilliant lively and catchy tune, used in Brassed Off, set the mood for the second half. The individual musical talent was again to the fore: in Rimmer's Jenny Jones it was the turn of horn soloist Isaac Grant with a delightful contribution and this was added to by the skills of Daniel Rose, on loan from Grimethorpe Colliery Band, in the haunting and moving Carrickfergus.
Further items included the cheering Bring Me Sunshine and Uptown Funk and ended with three brass classics: Jones’s Soul Bossa Nova, Williams’s Happy and the ever-popular Valero. The quality of the band members excelled and it would be remiss not to praise the six trombonists and the brilliant input from the percussion section.
The evening was a triumph richly enhanced by both the introductions and background information provided by MC Chrissie Powell and of course the band's indefatigable enthusiastic and gifted artistic director, Chris Jeans. Thanks and bravo!