From Main to Manhattan

Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band
Conductor: Brian Grant
Soloists: Kirsty Abbotts, Bridget Scott, Kate Eggleshaw, Claire Taylor, Ciaran Young, Phil Spencer
Amadeus Recordings: AMSCD84
Total Playing Time: 64.51

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First of all an apology. 4BR has had this CD release in our possession for a while now, and we haven't got around to reviewing it, as we should have. Sorry for that.

Second though, the excuse. The reason we haven't is that the CD has done the rounds between CD player in the house, then the car, down the girlfriends and on the portable CD player that accompanies the 4BR editor on his vain attempts to get fit on his bike. It is you see, one of those well put together, easy to listen to releases that is the equivalent of the ‘white sound' music you get in stores and shops around the country – the type of music to shop by, exercise with, drive by, do the gardening or just accompany a quiet night in reading a book whilst your better half fiddles about in the kitchen.

It's the equivalent in fact of a bottle of M&S Chardonnay – ideal to accompany just about anything you want.  

Carlton Main and their MD, Brian Grant have been intelligent enough to pitch it in the market place just in the right spot. Give the punters 13 well known tracks, nothing out of the ordinary, six excellent soloists and back it up with some quality ensemble work that plays to the strengths of the band. It is a simple recipe in fact, but one that not all bands tend to recognize or follow when they commit themselves to a CD release. 

It has also been a recipe they have been following on the contesting stage of late as well. Over the years Carlton Main has won everything from the British Open to the Grand Shield, Granada Band of the Year to the Yorkshire Area Championships, but they have also gone through the mill as well. The current band is at an exciting stage of its development; lots of talented young players mixed with some experienced stalwarts backed up with real commitment to the cause. Over the past year or so in particular they have performed with real merit at the Yorkshire Championships, Grand Shield, Brass in Concert and Butlins Mineworkers Championships – not all with the luck and results that they deserved.

Now with the backing of a sponsorship deal with local home builders, Ben Bailey the future looks secure, the combination of conductor and players has gelled well and you sense that more tangible success may just be around the corner. Carlton Main deserves it.

The 13 well chosen tracks do not demand much of the listener, but do make demands on the band – all of which are overcome with a clarity of style, good balance and rounded warm sound. A spirited bit of Gordon Langford inspired British Bulldog leads us off with his ‘Famous British Marches' before Kirsty Abbotts reminds us all why she is rightly regarded as one of the very best cornet soloists around with a superbly crafted ‘Meditation from Thais'.

In fact all of the soloists on parade display excellent technique and quality tone, with Bridget Scott a persuasive flugel on ‘The Folks who live on the Hill', Kate Eggleshaw a lovely true horn on Ellerby's ‘Elegy' from his ‘Tenor Horn Concerto', Clare Taylor a thrilling soprano voice on ‘The Queen of the Night's Aria', Ciaran Young a mature and thoughtful euphonium on ‘Lark in the Clear Air' and Phil Spencer an authentically fruity bass trombone on the Van Morrison ‘Moondance'.  

In between we also get a neat run through the ‘Overture to Orpheus in the Underworld', a well delivered and secure ‘Songs of the Quay' and a very good delivery of Eddie Huckridge's arrangement of ‘Danses Polovtsiennes'. Leroy Anderson's quirky ‘Serenata' has a fine controlled feel whilst there is welcome warmth to the hymn tune ‘Nicaea'. Meanwhile, Alan Catherall's ‘Manhatten Skyline' reminds us all of John Travolta, white flared trousers and the embarrassing memories of trying to dance like Tony Manero rather than Jose Mourinho at rugby club discos in a vain attempts to pick up a girlfriend. It never, ever worked.

This is a well thought out release from Carlton Main – even the title itself is a clever bit of alliteration, and the direction and control from Brian Grant permeates its way right from the first note to the last. As we have said – nothing out of the ordinary, just good quality brass band playing. Just remember to take it with you wherever you go.

Iwan Fox 

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