Aldbourne

Aldbourne Band
Musical Director – Ian Holmes
P&C 2003
Total Playing Time: 68.00 mins

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I didn't know much about the Aldbourne Band when I was first sent this CD to review by 4BR as they are not ranked by 4Barsrest, but sound quite handy. There is some pretty heavy reverb on the recording though which could be masking a lot but we understand this is an "in house" recording" undertaken by the band and so they must be congratulated for producing such a decent quality product.

There are a couple of interesting numbers by Devon-born composer David Fanshawe (famous for his ‘African Sanctus') in Fanfare for Planet Earth and Millennium March. They are both arranged by Peter Graham so presumably started life in another medium. These are the most engaging numbers on the disc and are featured as tracks one and two and set the band off in good style.

After these two appetizers, there's a series of really old ‘pot-boilers' including Shepherd's Song, Born Free etc. the band produces a pretty big sound, but their slower numbers seems to lack a bit of shape. Quite surprising really as they have obviously got some good players and are musically led by MD Ian Holmes, the experienced conductor who has worked with bands such as BAYV Cory in the past.

Overture to Mack and Mabel sets off at a nice steady tempo but the quite ‘woolly' recording makes it difficult to hear all the inner lines clearly. It captures the excitment and style, but we could have done with a bit more clarity in the middle and lower end.

Trombone soloist Robert Marsh plays the very demanding Bill Geldard version of Autumn Leaves. It's just a little rushed for our liking – maybe we still have the sound of Ian Bousfield's original version ringing in our ears! From a recording point of view, the soloist could be a little bit further forward in the mix too. Robert makes a very decent stab at it and he has a good high register. Maybe lacks a little bit of style to really pull it off, but well done.

Tracks such as Festmusik Der Stadt Wein do show the band in a much better light and they come into their own producing good, big sounds whilst a nice arrangement by Alan Morrison of Kenny Baker's Satchmo is played well on trumpet by soloist Carl Smith and the march ‘The President' is given a good showing. (a bit more light and shade would have been nice though)

There is a lovely arrangement of the hymn tune Sandon by Roy Newsome among all the big stuff with some lovely counter-melodies. All very nice and tasteful and a bit of a shame there isn't more of this sort of playing!

The Best of Bond shows yet again that this band really likes to blow! Some real ‘rip-snorting' in this one whilst the the heavy reverb actually complements the cornet soloist in Saint Saens Softly Awakes My Heart. However, the microphone sounds like it is pointing right at the soloist Chris Lewis' bell and there is some unfortunate fuzziness. Anyone doing the slow melody circuit will love this arrangement by Gordon Langford though and there is some sensitive accompaniment from the band.

Aldbourne sound much more comfortable on tracks such as Hello Dolly and their vocal qualities add a nice flavour to the piece! A good show and as singing in tune and balance is a pretty difficult art (especially for bandsmen) - so stars all round for this one.

Ken Downie's ‘In Perfect Peace' is a beautiful setting of a well-known Salvation Army chorus. It is a fine piece and well played by the band and they end the disc with lan Catherall's rousing arrangement of Danny Elfman's music to the film Batman. Once it gets going, the band sounds comfortable. There is very prominent percussion though!! (MD- Ian Holmes must have let them have their heads!!)

Overall, a good effort from Aldbourne. I'm sure they will sell many of these CD's at their concerts.

Richard Grantham

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