US Open Brass Band Championships 2004

Brass Band of Central Florida, Dearham Band, Fountain City Brass Band, Motor City Brass Band, Prairie Brass Band, Illinois Brass Band.
Total Playing Time: Approx 70 mins

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One of the highlights of 2004 for 4BR was the trip we made in November to the 2nd United States Open Brass Band Championships, which were held in Arlington Heights, Illinois. 

It proved to be a fantastic entertainment contest event – full of brilliant American showmanship and hospitality, fine performers and eager bandsmen and women with a real appetite for what they colloquially term, ‘British Brass Banding'.  The standard was pretty good as well, with some sparkling individual soloists and with bands that really gave it 100% plus in their attempt to win the US Open title.

One of those was the Dearham Band from the North East, who came, saw and very nearly conquered, whilst the eventual winners, the Brass Band of Central Florida under their charismatic Musical Director, Michael J. Garasi were a class act who simply wowed the audience, 4BR, the team of experienced British adjudicators, Frank Renton and subsequently the organisers of the British Open Championships. They really were that good. 

Behind them came other splendid performers, such as Prairie Brass Band, Fountain City, Motor City and Illinois, all of whom did themselves proud and showed that the fledging brass band scene in the USA is one that could well have very strong foundations indeed. All had their moments of quality.

This CD is a fine reminder for those of us who were there, and will be a very interesting listening for those who were not.  A mixture of 13 tracks recorded live at the venue provide the listener with plenty to enjoy as well as compare and contrast. 

The winners, the Brass Band of Central Florida sound very good indeed (although it is a great pity they didn't produce a DVD of the event so that you could enjoy the brilliant choreography that they also provided) and they do sound like an authentic ‘British' brass band.  They also have the ability to change their tonal quality so that they can play items such as ‘Birdland' in authentic fashion. The soloists here are top notch and swing better than Stan Collymore in a M6 lay-by. 

They also produced some fine playing in their other items as well, and the audience at the British Open should not underestimate their abilities – they have a whole host of class acts dotted throughout their ranks, and a conductor of rare ability in front of them. They could very well spring a surprise or two come September.

Dearham were fantastic ambassadors (they even gave their hosts a bottle of whisky signed by the Prime Minister no less) but they also played out of their skins. Mark Condron led then with real panache and the players responded in kind – a few of them even entered the ‘Busker's Competition' that was a great side show with the winners taking home with them a hat full of dollar bills as their prize (even Frank Renton  put a few hard earned nickels and dimes in!).   

They also produced the visual highlight of the contest with Sandy Smith's ‘Another Fine Mess' – brought to life by John McLaughlin and Gary Williams, which was made all the more appropriate by the fact that Stan Laurel came from the Dearham area. All it needed to have made it any better was for it to have been in black and white. 

The other home grown talent provide fine entertainment for the listener as well. Lee Harrelson was the excellent euphonium soloist on ‘Brillante', whilst the buskers from Motor City Brass Band give a cracking ‘Log Cabin Blues'. Motor City stick in a quality march with 'Barnum and Bailey's Favorite' (American spelling this!) and Fountain City romp through ‘Dundonnell' with more or a hint of swaying sporrans to the fore. 

All this and more in this most enjoyable release. The recording has the quality you would expect of a ‘live' event, but overall it is still pretty good, whilst the standard of playing bearing in mind that everyone was trying their guts out to entertain is pretty good as well.

As we said, the 2nd US Open was a real highlight of 2004 for 4BR, and we are looking forward already to making the trip to Arlington Illinois for this year's event. It should be well worth the long haul economy class journey.   

Iwan Fox

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