Virtuosi

The Fairey FP (Music) Band
Conducted by Bryan Hurdley and Howard Snell
Featuring: Morgan Griffiths, Ian Porthouse, Owen Farr, Kevin Crockford, Neil Hewson, Kevin Gibbs, Gareth Brindle
Egon Recordings: CD SFZ 115
Total Playing Time: 75.57

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In October 2003 the Fairey FP (Music) Band won the title of Champion Brass Band of Great Britain, the ninth time in total and the first time in their history they had retained the trophy. Part of the reason why they have been such a successful band, not only today, but since they were founded back in 1937 has undoubtedly been their ability to recruit some of the very best players in the banding movement to their base in Stockport.

Players such as Ken Smith, Alan Wycheley, Lyndon Baglin, Emlyn Bryant and Kenneth Dennison have all passed through the ranks and worn the famous flying fox band jackets, whilst the latter day star players have carried on the tradition of performing to the highest standards on both the contest and concert stage. This release confirms that the 2003 squad of players carry on the tradition, and on the fifteen tracks here they show why.

"Virtuosi" showcases the current crop (although since the release Ian Porthouse has announced his decision to leave the band) and they come up with 15 fine easy listening tracks. It has to be said that not all the items stretch these top class players to the limits, but perhaps that wasn't the thinking behind the release by the producers. The playing does show that these performers have the special skills that Chambers 20th Century Dictionary says is a pre requisite to be termed a virtuoso, but for us, there could have been some more "sparklers" in terms of the repertoire in this box of fairly tame musical fireworks.

All the players here have the musical and technical skills that mark them out, but some of the pieces they have to perform don't really do their talents justice. Having players of the calibre of Owen Farr, Morgan Griffiths, Ian Porthouse, Kevin Crockford, Neil Hewson, Kevin Gibbs and Gareth Brindle at your disposal would be a line up even Alec Ferguson would be pleased with, but it seems they have been given a Nationwide Division One pitch on which to show off their skills. They still sound Premiership class acts, but it's not quite exhibition match stuff – more a comfortable FA Cup third tie with Grimsby – 3-0 and a bit of a second half stroll in the park.

Nevertheless, Ian Porthouse shows why he has been one of a select band of top class Principal Cornet players in the land with his contributions on "Caprice for Cornet", "Someone Cares" and "Conchita" – the latter played with a lovely sense of the "dirty but nice" feel that the composer we think just about intended, whilst Morgan Griffiths is as near flawless as a Jonny Wilkinson drop goal in his features of "Euphonium Fantasia", "Serenade from Les Millions D' Arlequin" and the aged in oak casks "Shylock".

Neil Hewson displays a fine mature flugel horn sound on the ubiquitous "Share my Yoke" and then joins up with Kevin Crockford in a very tasteful rendition of "Pie Jesu". Kevin himself is in especially fine form with the lovely "Emmanuel" by Mark Freeh (which is certainly not from the sound track of the infamous film). Kevin has been one of the leading soprano players of his generation for many years now and has sometimes been unfairly criticised as a player who has made his reputation as a forceful blowing player. In recent year with Fairey's he has shown everyone that he is as sweet a toned soprano player as anyone around, and his two contributions here show this aspect of his playing to the full.

Gareth Brindle and Kevin Gibbs also show that they are two of the most promising talents around with their contributions. Gareth gives a lovely shaped rendition of Donegal Bay" whilst Kevin also gives a classy performance of "Embraceable You".

The highlights for us though come in the form of the playing of Owen Farr, the young Welshman who took over the prized solo horn chair from Sandy Smith – a hard act to follow in anyone's terms. He proves though that perhaps he is the best horn player around at the moment with a tremendous performance of "Carnival of Venice" which breathes life even into this knackered old warhorse, and another super performance of the Bellini "Concerto for Horn in E flat". He also pops up to give "Feelings" an airing of quality and freshness – no mean feat.

Finally there is an added bonus of hearing Lee Rigg, Neil Heywood and the underated Brian Taylor (a super cornet player and servant to the Fairey Band) in "The Three Trumpeters". Nothing too taxing, but still a nice workout all the same.

And that's it. Super players, not quite super repertoire. We are sure this will be a popular release both with the bands traditional supporters as well as the brass band loving public, but surely they deserved to impress with repertoire that stretched them a bit more than this. It's all good wholesome stuff, finely played – but it leaves you feeling a little disappointed that the pieces could have been a touch more adventurous.

Iwan Fox

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