American Landscapes

Sellers International Band
Conductor: Phillip McCann
Doyen Recordings: CD185
Total Playing Time: Approx 75 mins

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Soloists: Mark Bousie, Helen Giddings, Carol Stephens, Natalie Beer, Darren Stott
Vocalists: Jason McCann, Elizabeth Atkinson
Narrator: Alan Jenkins
Accompanists: Tim Smith (Piano), Naomi Downing (Flute)

The United States of America is a country of vast dichotomies. The politics, religion, and economics of the country are separated at their extremes by vast chasms of belief and wealth that can both embrace and repel it's own people, whilst the sheer magnitude of it's geographical size renders even a population of over 275 million to almost Lilliputian proportions. In whichever way you look at it, the USA is a quite amazing country.

It is however that sheer size that above all-else defines it as a nation. It is over 9.3 million km2 in size, is divided into 50 states, has a climate that ranges from the sub tropical in the south to the Mediterranean in the West and the Arctic in the North, and comprises some of the greatest natural phenomenon in the entire world. Add to that the influence either benign or harsh of it's urban population and you have a country quite unlike any other on the face of the earth.

Musically, American culture has been forged by many disparate sources – both native and imported. The music of the south born of the slave trade and poor white stock, the colonial influences of the French and Western Europeans, the development of indigenous jazz, folk, bluegrass, country and western, right up to the present day even with the Seattle "grunge" explosions of the early 1990's. America musically embraces all cultures and all influences. In more classical terms, the country has yet to produce a Mozart or Beethoven, but composers such as Aaron Copland, Charles Ives, Leonard Bernstein and John Adams have given them a distinctive voice.

For this fine release, the rejuvenated Sellers International Band under Philip McCann have tried to capture some of those musical dichotomies to the full, casting their net far and wide to provide the listening with ample opportunity to enjoy the different musical palettes of the country. Thus we are given everything from the National Anthem, the "Star Spangled Banner" to Elvis Presley and "An American Trilogy". We hear the sounds of the South such as "Swannee River" and "I wish I was in Georgia" in the compilation "Ole South" as well as the brash and brilliant tunes of Broadway and the great shows in "One Hand, One Heart" and "Maria" from the fantastic "West Side Story". Added to this are influences of the Salvation Army in "Truth Aflame", the effect of America at War in "Images for Brass" and even an historical musical portrait of perhaps its greatest President in "Lincoln Portrait". It makes for both a very interesting and very satisfying release.

A lot of thought has gone into this production and the addition of the vocals of Jason McCann AND Elizabeth Atkinson on the two "West Side Story" tracks is a real delight, whilst the plumby tones and measured delivery of narrator Alan Jenkins in the "Lincoln Portrait" really adds class to that particular piece. The bands own soloists are also on good form with Mark Bousie the pick for us on euphonium on the beautifully simplistic "Jeanie with the light Brown Hair", although both Darren Stott on "You Raise Me Up", Natalie Beer on "Scarlet Ribbons" and both Helen Giddings and Carol Stephens on "Ole South" are not far behind.

The band also produce a fine ensemble sound on their major offerings too, with the major works of "Images for Brass", Truth Aflame" and the "Lincoln Portrait" displaying admirable detail and balance. In the past year Sellers have returned to something approaching their best, and this has been in no small measure to the return of Phillip McCann to the helm of the band he created in 1986 as the Huddersfield Tecol Band. This year they have just missed out on a Nationals and British Open appearance as well as coming runners up at the Spennymoor Brass in Concert and gaining third place at the recent inaugural Scottish Open. On the evidence of this CD you can see why they are a band to look out for in 2004.

The CD starts with a stirring arrangement of the "Star Spangled Banner" before the band perform Stephen Bulla's "Images for Brass" in splendid fashion. This is a piece that really caught us unaware – a super composition of depth and musicality that leaves you deeply satisfied. The four movement work commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, one of the most bloody battles engaged in by Amercian troops in the Japanese conflict. The final referral to the Marine's own hymn is a moving one as it signifies the end to the conflict, depicted by the famous photograph of the American Flag being raised by a group of Marines (the majority of whom were killed just days later) on top of the island.

This was a real highlight for us of a fine recording. As we have said, Sellers are on good form here, well drilled, balanced and full toned, but with a very tight ensemble that the MD controls in exemplary fashion. The soloists are very good and the band playing also impresses, whilst the intelligent approach to the repertoire (including tracks that are new to us) adds greatly. There are also fine and copious sleeve notes (although there is no pen portraits of the other soloists other than the McCann clan) and there is a nice introduction from David Armitage which succinctly describes the idea behind the release. The production values are very good as well – and it's nice to see the names of Bob McDowall and Harold Barnes again on a brass band CD (Where have they been hiding?)

All in all a quality release from a band very much on the up again.

Iwan Fox

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