In Concert - Ammanford Town Silver Band

Conductor: Colin Hogg
Soloists: Tara Smith, Tim Hughes, Christopher Jenkins, Steve Jones, James Voros, Andrew Tossell
ATB Recordings: CDMISCO1
Total Playing Time: 59.27

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West Wales may seem an unlikely hot bed of brass banding, but there has been a very distinguished banding fraternity in this area of the Principality for a very long time. 

Looking back through the record books of the major contests, great names pop out to remind you that it hasn't always been the likes of Cory, Tredegar and Parc and Dare who have flown the Welsh flag at the national contests. Before the First World War, there were the likes of Aberaman Original, Cwmtawe, Trebanos, Brynamman and Aberdovey Town, whilst in the 1920's the Gwaun Cae Gurwen Band were placed in the top six at the British Open from 1921 to 1924 and were regular competitors at the Albert Hall in the 1950's. 

At the 1903 National Finals at Crystal Palace the British Bandsman reported that they had said a "how d'ye do" to influential people in the banding movement, including a Mr JJ Williams from Trebanos and a Mr W. Everett from Maesteg, whilst later that year their correspondent who went under the pseudonym, "Eb" reported from West Wales to say that the West Wales cup holders, Penygroes Silver were ‘very nervous' and didn't wish to enter a local contest in Ammanford which was won by Cwmtawe Silver. The mischievous correspondent added: "Now gentlemen, this will not do. You are not doing justice to your Association nor the contest promoters. The public was looking forward to having the pleasure of listening to the cup holders, but were sorely disappointed."

It was at that time a real hotbed indeed, with other bands such as Burry Port, Llansamlet, Gorseinon, Ystradgynlais, Protheroes, Tycroes and Alltwyn all having bands making trips up to London to compete in the lower sections of the Crystal Palace extravaganza. 

Time has of course taken its toll, but the banding scene in the west still continues and provides Welsh banding with a vibrant yearly contest (held alternatively at Ammanford and Burry Port) and a number of fine young players who have graced many of the top bands in the UK.

The Ammanford Band themselves have been going a long time as well – formed in the 1850's as a drum and fife band but in 1881 to a brass band. It has had a somewhat up and down history ever since, but in the last few years in particular they have gone from strength to strength, and in 2001 became the Second Section Champion Band of Great Britain – off a number 1 draw as well.

Since then they have continued to prosper and are currently a well established First Section Band nationally and compete in the Championship Section in local Welsh Contests, and this recording, made in February 2004 shows why.

15 light concert items are well directed by current MD, Colin Hogg and the band display an admirable degree of control, balance and warmth of sound. There are of course areas of untunefulness and a bit of scrappiness in places, but overall this is a well constructed and produced release, full of good ensemble work, and a line up of very solid and competent soloists. 

It is also nice to report that the chosen repertoire is well handled because although it stretches the band technically and musically, it never defeats them and at no time do the band resort to overblowing and stridency. It took them three days to make the release, and it is evident it was three days of hard work, well spent.

The soloists in particular catch the ear, with fine contributions from them all, with the soprano playing of Tim Hughes and the horn playing of Steve Jones showing a quality that wouldn't go amiss at the top level and the rest of the line up giving strong and well shaped performances as well.   The ensemble work in some varied selections is also neat and tidy, with a strong and purposeful ‘Jubilee Prelude' by Philip Sparke kicking off the disc and a enjoyable romp through ‘Lightwalk' ending things off nicely. In between we get three well played movements from Peter Graham's, ‘Call of the Cossacks' suite – including some fine flugel work from Tara Smith in the Led Zeppelin ‘Smoke on the Water' inspired ‘Doyle's Lament' (listen closely and it is pinched from it we are sure).

Alan Fernie's clever arrangement of ‘MacArthur Park' reminds you that it is a great piece of music that was forever ruined by Richard Harris's singing of lyrics that included the immortal lines; "MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark; All the sweet, green icing flowing down... Someone left the cake out in the rain; I don't think that I can take it 'cause it took so long to bake it; And I'll never have that recipe again; Oh, no!"….

Who say's they don't write like that anymore? Thankfully the band doesn't have to sing it, and play it rather well instead.

There is also the ubiquitous ‘Irish Blessing' and Robert Child's fine arrangement of ‘A Little Prayer' – both of which are sympathetically played and directed, and there is a long overdue recall from the dusty crevices of the music library for TJ Powell's so called novelty quintet, ‘The Tops'. This has always been a bit of a curio of a piece, as although it is billed as a quintet, the opening statements are two fanfares of six, as a five just doesn't fit. Perhaps that was the novelty of it all along?

All in all it makes for a promotional package that has certainly been well produced and thought out. Ammanford are one of those bands that has a strong sense of it place within its community and which has certainly given more to the brass band movement in both Wales and the UK than it has ever taken out. It is also nice to see that the CD has been dedicated to one of the great characters of the Welsh banding scene, the late Eifion Rogers, who was a fine administrator and supporter of brass bands both in his home town and all over the UK, as well as having one of the most wicked senses of humour you would ever likely to enjoy. This recording would have made him a very proud man – and he, like us would have enjoyed it to the full.  
 

Iwan Fox.

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