Two of a Mind

Nick Hudson and Douglas Yeo
The Williams Fairey Band
Conductor: Thomas Wyss
David Chapman, piano
Egon Recordings: SFZ107

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It's not often you get two world-class performers to play together. When you are that good, there is usually an ego to match and leaving yourself open to comparison may reveal that a rival or contemporary comes out on top. And for the truly world class player, that's professional suicide. Remember the likes of Steve Ovett and Seb Coe or even Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis. Stay apart long enough and the hype and expectation will usually far exceed anything the PR men could dream of, but come together before you've either reached your peak or when you are a bit off form and your reputation may be tarnished forever.

Thankfully, both Nick Hudson and Douglas Yeo are world class performers without ego's the size of Audley Harrison's, and thankfully, both have the talent and good sense to be able to showcase their abilities without recourse to competitive rivalry. The end product is a truly top class CD release.

Nick Hudson has been the best brass band trombone player of his generation, ever since he took the challenge of becoming the fifteen-year-old Principal Trombone of the Foden's Band. Since then, he has established his reputation with a series of scintillating concert and contest performances that have left no one in doubt of his pedigree. We named him in the 4BR Top 10 Trombone Players of all time – and we weren't trying to kid anyone. He really is that good.

Douglas Yeo meanwhile has been the Bass Trombone player of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 1985, and ever since he graduated from the famous Wheaton College and New York University, he has been head hunted by many of the leading US orchestras, including the Boston Pops Orchestra to play for them. Given that the orchestral scene in the USA is one of the most fiercely competitive and that the standard of brass orchestral playing is possibly the highest anywhere, his reputation has been forged in the most musically intense atmosphere imaginable. That tells you something about the man.

Both men possess the technical armoury to make the most of any repertoire that is placed in front of them, but the exceptional aspect of this release is that it is a testament to their innate musicianship and not just a showcase of pyrotechnic proficiency. Thus, each of the 13 tracks are given thoughtful expressive performances, that never stray from the intentions of the composers and are not spoilt by the trick embellishments or "individualism" of absent minded musical inconsideration.

Each performer gives superbly crafted individual accounts of substantial solo works as well as beautifully realised recital pieces. Much of the repertoire on show draws it's inspiration from the Salvation Army and as such is understated yet fulfilling. The tracks 6 to 9 offer four works for solo voice, three accompanied by the superb David Chapman on piano and one with a very on form Williams Fairey. They are reflective, spiritual and beautifully performed by two artists with an intuitive feel for musical line and shape and a consummate understanding of the relationship for the words that have inspired the composers writing. They are immensely satisfying tracks.

The other works showcase the player's individual abilities to the full, and there is mastery of the diverse musical disciplines and styles that have been deliberately chosen for inclusion. Together they blend their sounds and timbres, at times making the darker edges razor sharp and using the full range of dynamics to explore the outer reaches of the instruments. Thus, Yeo makes his bass trombone sound huge without losing the clean articulation that so bedevils brass band players of the instrument, whilst he also delivers a plumby rounded tone in the upper register that never sounds forced or flat (another bug bear in the banding world). Hudson on the other hand is a musical chameleon who can change colour, timbre, style and tone at will – and always with impeccable musical taste. There is no other player with quite his range or abilities on the banding circuit.

Two of a Mind is a fine release that is continually interesting to the listener and there is a musical intelligence on show here that is a pleasure to listen to. No overblown egos (there's even a snap shot photo of Nick Hudson sporting a very nice double chin!) and as a result there is an understated class about the proceedings. Well done boys.

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