Another week may have passed when musicians, ensembles and bands have had to endure not being able to get together to perform music, but once again they have been using their time brilliantly to come up with some great isolation performances — although none have thankfully involved a guest appearance by Dominic Cummings popping in for a blow...
Bonkers
The standard has been incredibly high — starting off with the two completely brilliantly bonkers Kelly and Lisa Brazneill — who are the best comedy duo since French & Saunders...
This will put a smile on your face...
https://www.facebook.com/kelly.brazneill/videos/10158802784499009/?eid=ARBQPpVISRG74E3-SEc3kfYwm04g8dqQOydK8MLTbE0XMsGHqT3H4EcYN37YW1WkaqeTvSaysif2lFQR
Reaching out and thanks
Cory of course has been reaching out across the globe — literally so with the world premiere of 'IMG Anthem — Unity' which was the music for the Indoor Music Games. https://www.facebook.com/coryband/videos/591810541541222/
Uppermill Band has recorded their musical tribute to all key workers, with grateful thanks for all they do to keep us all safe and well.
Their rendition of 'Under the Boardwalk' includes their own key workers
https://youtu.be/abHs0-efn6U
Unfortunately delegates from across the banding world have missed out on a number of great Summer School courses this year, but the tutors of the Fermanagh/Tyrone Summer School — so why not enjoy the likes of Les Neish, Owen Farr, Ian Porthouse (wearing best Sideshow Bob wig), Brian Taylor and friends giving it the full beanz with 'All Night Long' —
The singing may need a bit more practice though...
https://www.facebook.com/FTBBSS/videos/2716622311904298/UzpfSTc5ODQwNTIyNzpWSzozNDQ5NTc5ODMxNDk3NDY/
Meanwhile, down in Wales, the Burry Port Band has met up with the Scissor Sisters for what they believe may well be the "greatest special distancing music video ever created"- although they do admit that they may by a bit biased with their opinions.
See what you think it will get you dancin'...
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=536559023692984
Diverse Brass has been raising funds to help to essential work of the Waterford and South East Samaritans thanks to a cracking poptastic rendition of 'All My Loving' by the Beatles... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POXinYBBPls&fbclid=IwAR03QvbNnBv7Mk6MjVSesjQzsruxmus1DrNIiG6hYIWM9LlZielKf7oD9yw&app=desktop
Gospel
Over the other side of the pond, North West Brass from Belle Vue, Washington state, has recorded 'God Be With You' by Vaughan Williams...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy1hbi_7bE0&fbclid=IwAR06eYUIW7QVaUL5BCzY1jrBts1R61mqp1kO8gDji91Nm2yshPXcLfqBXOM
There is a great first time effort from Enfield Brass Band featuring a super gospel singer Jenny La Touche on 'Islands in the Stream'. Kenny Rogers couldn't have done it better...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMKtMBKWups
And also by Wincanton Silver Band — with a great bit of Welsh hymn tune playing — Number 7 from the Red Books — Blaenwern...
https://www.facebook.com/WincantonSilverBand/videos/2467093386954034/UzpfSTc3MDI2NzkyODpWSzoyNTM2NzI5Njg2NTc5NjI1/
Solo spots
Mind you, MD Alan Duguid provides a lovely rendition of 'Cradle Song' on flugel horn (and rather mysterious self playing piano!). It's a super arrangement of James Scott Skinner's original fromAlan's home country of Scotland...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJnvzJk63Sk
And the one and only Lito Fontana provides us with something just sublime...
https://www.facebook.com/lito.fontana/videos/10220184538996215/
And Tredegar Band's principal cornet Dewi Griffiths has put on his red shoes and clicked his way 'Over the Rainbow'... mellow...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jkmFiz8HkU&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR3loqZ4NP46chveATxt_cw6kjSiFYV7LcB54Mnw3plSjKtO55khKG2pb9g
Whilst Simon Jones heads to 'Born Free' country with his multi-tenor rendition of the famous John Barry film theme.. all part of the Flowers Band 'Born Free Challenge'. You can hear that top C at the opening in Zimbabwe...
https://www.facebook.com/brassbander/videos/10158186348165942/UzpfSTUzMTQ3MDk0MToxMDE1ODYyNzAwMzkyODY3NQ/
Pick n' Mix
We don't know if they are inspired by the famous 'Pick 'n Mix' counter at Woolies all those years ago, but the Pick and Mix Virtual Brass Band made up of players from all over the UK certainly come up with something tasty with their rendition of 'Starburst'...
https://www.facebook.com/PnMVBB/videos/2682356342053380/UzpfSTEzOTQ3OTAyNDE6Vks6MzQ1MDQ3NTQzMTQwNzkw/
Some people are really missing contesting it seems — although you have to take your hats off to City of Birmingham Brass Band who recreated a 'virtual' reprise of their runner-up performance at the Midlands Regional Championships with this performance of Christopher Bond's 'Neverland'...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etGnVx56WNM&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3Gnaa2pLs5KAFONkZUtmOedd6wcF5WCCShuLj_3C6GEOr2EpeP525j8bQ
On the other side of the world, Glenferrie Brass from Hawthorn in Melbourne make sure we don't forget our mothers during this time, with a super rendition of 'My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose' featuring Jamie Lawson on cornet...
https://www.facebook.com/glenferriebrass/videos/249408902977770/?__tn__=%2CdkCH-R-R&eid=ARAbaQHxGXqKVWRvggJqBCisQHUcC5Lllz-f_gt879o4u3_1856zKjNzqw_fXCDJYWZRByBAm0caTdpW&hc_ref=ARSDRsatZQPu5S38Mbd4lm0fRHXgKUqpMp-Av7g9VkKbFJWQ9faG_rvHlQ9CzMK3IWQ&fref=nf&hc_location=group
