The Kerwin Sound

Alexandra Kerwin
Featuring: David Childs, Philip Wilby, Scottish Co-op Band, Glasgow City Brass and Brass Band Emmental
Doyen Recordings: CD187
Total Playing Time: 70.27

~ Buy with 4barsrest shopping

What a wonderful musician Alexandra Kerwin is. It would have been easy just to say what a wonderful player she is, but that undoubted fact would do her an injustice, for this CD release is a superb example of an immensely talented musician at work.

Alex has been recognised as a performer of the highest class for many years and first came to prominence when following her tutelage from the likes of James Shepherd, Phillip McCann, Russell Gray and Douglas Hodge she burst onto the stage as the precocious principal cornet of the Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band.   Since that time she hasn't looked back and following a rather peripatetic playing route she has simply stunned audiences around the world with her performances both as an ensemble player and a soloist.

In 2003 she became the British Open Solo Champion and Brass in Concert ‘Best Soloist' award winner, whilst on her first appearance at the 2004 New Zealand Brass Band Championships she was awarded the prestigious prize as 'Best Instrumentalist' as well as 'Best Soloist' in the keenly fought "New Zealand Band of the Year Contest".  Add to that the fact that she has performed with many of the best bands around, as well as winning solo prizes at the highly professional SIDDIS Contest in Norway and you can see what we mean when we describe her as a wonderful musician. 

Currently of course she is living in New Zealand with her husband and two children and whilst she is certainly enjoying herself there as one of the UKs finest exports, she has become one of the brass band worlds great travelling stars with long haul trips back to Great Britain to perform with the Black Dyke Band at both the British Open Championships and as part of their winning National Championships effort. In addition she regularly appears in Europe and was for some time living and playing in Norway with the Stavanger Band as well as performing as a guest artist in Switzerland with Brass Band Emmental, who accompany her in part on the CD.

It all adds up to an exceptionally busy schedule for one of the movement's finest players, but on the evidence of this release entitled, 'The Kerwin Sound', you can hear why she is so much in demand.

The 18 tracks showcase a very special talent who is able to produce performances of the highest class on different instruments whilst encompassing different styles with aplomb.  Therefore we get to hear her open the CD with a cracking bit of Spanish/Mexican inspired trumpet playing on ‘The Flamenco' (it couldn't sound more authentic of she was wearing a sombrero and Zapata moustache) followed by some beautifully shaped and warmly toned cornet playing on ‘Panis Angelicus'.

It sets the standard that the rest of the release fulfils splendidly, with the soloist performing on a D trumpet, flugel horn and soprano in addition to the cornet and Bb trumpet. She is in total command of them all, and so even smaller items such ‘Trumpet Tune' by William Boyce and ‘Prayer of St. Gregory' are revealed as little gems.

The main work to certainly capture the ear though is Philip Wilby's ‘Three Improvisations In a Japanese Garden' which is a wonderfully atmospheric modern work that uses a pre recorded electronic sound track to which the solo voice must fit in. All three movements feature traditional Japanese percussion instruments and the overall effect coupled with some sublime trumpet playing is quite something.  It has a true oriental feel of precision and miniature beauty.

Also included on the disc are two performances of pieces that Alex has seared her hallmark upon. The first is ‘Slavische Fantasie', which has been overplayed of late but still thrills when given this type of treatment, whilst ‘Gethsemane' is given an absolutely coruscating account that sets the pulse really racing. Alex has won individual awards with both these pieces, and you can hear why – they are absolute corkers.
These are not the only crackers, with a slick and note perfect ‘Badinerie No.2', a haunting, ‘Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man' and beautifully tragic ‘Che Gelida Manina'. The modern repertoire is also mastered with Mike Batt's ‘The Closest Thing to Crazy', whilst the operatic world gets some supreme treatment on ‘Una Furtiva Lagrima' and ‘Ave Maria'. There is also a marvellously shaped duet with David Childs from the Salvation Army repertoire in the form of ‘I'll Not Turn Back' an authentic old variation solo in 'La Belle Americaine' and some excellent flugel plaing on 'Just the way you look Tonight'. It all adds up to a marvellous exhibition of brass playing of the highest class.

At the beginning of the year 4BR was in New Zealand where Alexandra Kerwin made her "home" debut with her new band at the New Zealand National Championships. Much was expected of her and her reputation was certainly on the line as she lined up to play in front of an audience that is notoriously hard to impress. The New Zealanders had heard of the ‘Kerwin Factor' and were sceptical that it existed. 24 hours later they were stunned, breathless and queuing up to shake her hand and get her autograph after she had produced two awesomely brilliant accounts of herself both on the test piece and entertainment contest platforms. 

You see, Alex Kerwin is a wonderful musician, and this CD proves it in full.

Iwan Fox.

~ Buy with 4barsrest shopping

^back to top