Brett Baker was able to meet up with one of his most respected brass band friends on his recent concert tour to the USA when he managed to spend time once again with Dr Keith Wilkinson.

The musical association goes back to 1995 when Brett toured Switzerland with the Midlands based William Davis Band which Keith conducted for several years.

Keith relocated to the USA to work the following year, but the pair have kept in touch over the past 28 years through reciprocal visits as well a long term musical connection that has seen Keith create solo arrangements for the Black Dyke Band star to perform and record.

Detour

Brett ensured that on this trip he took a detour to Ohio to stay with Keith and his wife, Audrey, between performing with Imperial Brass in New Jersey and at the International Trombone Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Not missing a chance to maintain the musical link though, Keith also invited Brett to play at the beautiful local Park of Roses with his band, Dublin Metro Brass, where the duo took the opportunity to premiere a couple of his recent trombone solo arrangements — Leopold Zimmerman's 'Autumn Dreams' and Edwin Franko Goldman's 'My Heaven of Love'.

It was wonderful to have Brett visit our family once more — and then to agree to play in our concertDr Keith Wilkinson

Wonderful

Keith told 4BR: "It was wonderful to have Brett visit our family once more — and then to agree to play in our concert. The Covid pandemic had stopped his planned visit in 2020 when the Zimmerman solo was due to be premiered, so it was great to final hear it performed so brilliantly."

Brett also performed Gershwin's 'I Loves You Porgy' which Keith remembered recording more than 40 years ago with Don Lusher and the GUS Band.

The concert was enjoyed by a large audience, with the band also performing Keith's recent arrangement of the march 'St. Julien' (Hughes) alongside the full programme of band items, whilst in response to audience demand for an encore, Keith brought Brett forward to feature in '76 Trombones.'