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The 2002 4BarsRest "All Star" Brass
Band
This has been one heck of a difficult decision we can tell you.
In addition to all the players selected for the three home country
bands, we have had to take into consideration players not selected
(and there have been many from bands such as YBS, Brighouse, Dyke
Cory, etc) but well worthy of a place in any band in the world,
plus those players from our banding friends overseas.
Neither Iwan or Anthony had anything to do with those selected for
the home country bands, but as the two owners of 4BR we have chosen
the list for the “All Star Band” – it’s
our site and we can therefore please ourselves!!!! If you don’t
agree with us, then let us know – but we won’t change
our minds!
As we have already said, the main criteria for selection in the
“All Star” band has been form. As the great Bill Shankley
once said, “Form is temporary, class is permanent” so
therefore don’t lose your rag when you don’t see your
particular favourite up there in our list – the selections
are purely based on whom we thought we the form players of the past
twelve months.
So here is the band we have chosen.
Musical Director: Bramwell Tovey
Given that he won our “Best Conductor” prize in our
awards, it was only fair that the great man be given the opportunity
to direct affairs. No other MD during the year had that undeniable
bit of extra class that he had, even though he once more failed
to get a major prize. It has been a pleasure to see him at work
and we think the players in the band would just love to work with
him.
Associate Conductors: Robert Childs and Russell Gray
Tovey will need two very fine associates to prepare the band and
we couldn’t think of two better during 2002. Both have been
outstanding in their separate ways and have that happy knack of
preparing their bands to the right peak of perfection. Sectional
rehearsals would be as intense as a contest performance.
Principal Cornet: Ian Porthouse (Williams Fairey)
The best top cornet player we heard playing during 2002 –
and that against some brilliant competition is saying something.
The quality of his playing was something else and he deservedly
takes the end chair for our band for his exploits during the past
twelve months.
Solo Cornets: Ian Williams (BAYV Cory): Mark Wilkinson
(Fodens Richardson): Roger Webster (Black Dyke)
This was perhaps the most difficult selection of all. Nearly every
principal cornet with all the top bands was on good form during
2002, but for us, these three just had the edge on the rest, and
in this order. Ian Williams has been superb with Cory and Mark Wilkinson
really raised his game to a new level during 2002. Roger Webster
was class every time he took the stage, but the other two just had
the edge on him for us during the past twelve months. Some top end
though.
Soprano Cornet: Alan Wycherley (Fodens Richardson)
Who to pick eh? Peter Roberts was awesome in places (especially
the European) and others also shone through during the year such
as Kevin Crockford at Williams Faireys, Steve Barnsley at BAYV Cory
and Alan Hobbins at Brighouse and Rastrick, but the “Wych”
has be a man reborn and gets the nod to do the highwire business
for the “All Stars”
Repiano: Stuart Lingard (Yorkshire Building Society)
Didn’t make it into the lineup chosen by the English panel,
but we enjoyed his efforts throughout the year and we thought him
unlucky not to get into that band. We have used our power of veto
at 4BR and squeezed him into the rep seat where he can shine.
Second and Third Cornets: Richard Marshall (Grimethorpe),
Kirsty Abbotts (Carlton Main,) Eleanor Ferguson (Dalmellington),
Chris Bradley (Whitburn)
Four super players who could just as well swap seats with the top
end without a problem. The top three have been performing excellently
throughout 2002, whilst Chris Bradley continues to be one of the
best players we have heard – plus he plays a very, very mean
flugel – just in case the band play one of those funny Gregson
works.
Flugel Horn: Helen Fox (Fodens Richardson)
Without doubt the star flugel player of the year at the major contests,
with superb performances at the Masters and London in particular.
Neil Hewson at Fairey’s, Ian Shires at Grimethorpe, Joanne
Deane at BAYV Cory as well as Andrea Lewis at Tredegar and Julia
Telling at Flowers could fill this seat with honour, but Helen Fox
was just that little bit above everyone else.
Solo Horn: Owen Farr (Williams Fairey)
First Horn: David Cornelius (BAYV Cory)
Second Horn: Rose Crosara
Some horn section this, with two Welshmen and a Australian making
up the trio. Owen Farr for us has been the outstanding horn player
of the past twelve months whilst David Cornelius is a sup player
with BAYV Cory and one who leads their middle of the band section
so well. Rose Crosara absolutely stunned the audience at the recent
British Open Solo Championships but didn’t get the final on
a time technicality. However, all who heard her stated quite categorically
that she is some player and somebody who we will hear a lot of in
the next few years.
Euphoniums: Morgan Griffiths (Williams Fairey), Tormod
Flaten (Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag)
This was an immensely difficult task given the quality we had the
opportunity to chose from, but two players stood out for us during
the past twelve months. Morgan Griffiths has been THE euphonium
player of 2002 without a doubt, whilst Tormod Flaten created such
an impression on us with his CD release, whilst both reports of
his recent masterclass at the RNCM and his performances with Eikanger
clearly showed that he is one heck of a virtuoso.
Baritones: Anne Crookston (Whitburn), Sue Thomas (BAYV Cory)
Two exceptional artists of the neglected art of baritone playing
fill this section – and two ladies to boot. Not that has anything
to do with it of course, but these two players have by common consent
been two of the best during performances during 2002. Anne Crookston
has long been regarded as Scotland’s premier baritone player,
and confirmed her stature throughout the year with Whitburn, whilst
Sue Thomas holds the same position in Wales with BAYV Cory. Both
can blow like dray horses, so middle band power won’t be affected
in any way and the technical stuff will be handled like water of
a ducks back.
Trombones: Nick Hudson (Williams Fairey), Brett Baker (Black
Dyke), Tobias Bannan (Grimethorpe Colliery)
Nick Hudson once more showed that he leads the trombone field in
terms as both a soloist and section player, with some tremendous
performances during the past twelve months. His return to Faireys
for the Nationals gave them a cutting edge on “Masquerade”
that wasn’t bettered all day. Brett Baker meanwhile didn’t
make English Band, but we think he was a little harshly done by
to miss out and he has been playing as well as ever for Black Dyke
during 2003, so he got the nod over some fine players for us. Tobias
Bannan is a super player and he has made his mark at Grimethorpe
during 2002 after being a splendid player for Fodens. A player with
a lovely plumb rich tone and the ability to “colour”
rather than obliterate the bass end – although we are sure
he can do that as well.
Eb Basses: Phil Green (Fodens Richardson), Gavin Saynor
(Beaumaris)
Phil Green continues to be the best lead Eb we’ve heard in
the banding world during the past year and he really did shine during
all of Fodens performances, with a lovely rich tone and a technical
clarity to his playing few could match. Gavin Saynor pushed him
all the way though and don’t’ be surprised that he “only”
plays for Beaumaris (although he has now transferred to YBS we believe).
He is very well known on the “Northern” circuit and
has been head hunted by all the top bands for ages – a superb
tuba player.
Bb Basses: Dean Morley (Grimethorpe Colliery), Brett Wharton
(Fodens Richardson)
Two players who know each other very well indeed from their days
together at Fodens where they were just about the best Bb team in
the business. “Deano” moved to pastures new, and has
revealed a quieter side to himself, although his tuba playing has
remained monstrously good. Brett Wharton however, has taken the
opportunity to move into Dean’s seat at Fodens and has flourished
during 2002, to the extent that he is now rightly seen as perhaps
the best Bb player on the circuit.
Percussion: Alan Hathaway (BTM), Mark Arnold (Grimethorpe
Colliery), Chris Wood (Black Dyke)
The lads in the percussion department are three tremendously talented
guys who are “quiet” experts at their trade. None of
the three are flashy players – those who catch the eye through
their on stage antics, but they give each performance from their
bands added class with playing that compliments and blends with
the brass rather than just stands out on its own. They enhance everything
their bands perform, and that is surely the sign of real class.
We asked around and these three names just kept cropping up, So
they are our three choices. Simple as that.
That our choice for 2002 then. Lots of superb players and a couple
that we thought deserved to be included even though the national
selectors overlooked them. It was all on form remember, so next
year we could very well have a completely different line up. However,
this lot will take some beating. Congratulations to one and all
from 4BR and commiseration’s to those who didn’t quite
make it. We could have easily chosen 28 more without a problem and
still come up with one hell of a band.
© 4BarsRest
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