The Man with the Golden Cornet

Alan Morrison
Brighouse and Ratrick Band
Conductor: David Hirst
Hot Records: CD1100
Total Playing Time: 43.50

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Alan Morrison is no stranger to solo discs having produced over half a dozen or so during his illustrious career, a career which incredibly now extends to around twenty five years in top level banding. This however  is his first solo disc since taking up the position of principal cornet with Brighouse and Rastrick in 2003 and is also the first he has recorded for Sussex based Hot Records who promise a series of future discs featuring "different styles of modern music for brass".

Part of the object of this exercise as far as the record company was concerned was to extend the boundaries beyond those of a conventional brass band audience. Indeed, the hope was to see the disc enter the fringes of the pop charts and to this end a concerted promotional campaign has already resulted in a fair amount of prime air time on Radio Two as well as numerous provincial radio stations. We have no doubt that it was not lost on the record company that as well as the solo star there is also the added bonus of a band providing backing who remain a household name thanks to Terry Wogan and a certain tune, the name of which we refuse to allow to pass our lips!

For those of us who are closely associated with the band world we can simply sit back and revel in the fact that 2005 has been a vintage year for solo CD's with the likes of Richard Marshall, Iwan Morgan, David Childs, Glyn Williams and now Morrison all producing discs that more than do justice to their individual talents.

Unsurprisingly given the aspirations for the disc the choice of music reflects a noticeable leaning to a potential wider market place although it is pleasing that room was found for Allan Street's Kim, something of a brass band classic in its day although not too often heard these days. It's clearly a piece that has a special place in Morrison's own affections and is dispatched in a relaxed style that perfectly suits the mood of the music. The programme also tends to the lyrical; nothing fast and furious on display here, but quite frankly when it's played with the sublime tone and artistry on display from Morrison it hardly matters.

The opening piece, San Damiano, is one of a couple of curiosities, in this case the curiosity factor being down to the composer, one Sal Solo, formerly lead singer of the early 80's new wave pop band Classix Nouveaux (go on, you know you remember him…the tall guy with the bald head!) Inspired by a pilgrimage to the San Damiano of the title, the gentle melody is worlds apart from what you would expect of the man who wrote it. That said, appearances can be deceptive and the music is unquestionably more attractive than the man himself! Either way, Alan Morrison's dulcet tones are immediately on display and set the stage for much of what follows, namely a text book demonstration of lyrical cornet playing of a standard that the traditionalists amongst us may feel to be all too lacking in brass band solo playing these days.

Brighouse's now long serving solo baritone player Leigh Baker has built a notable reputation for his arrangements in recent years and he is responsible for two of the nine pieces on the disc the first of which, Remember Me, is an original. Taking its title from the Christina Rosetti poem of the same name, the melody is one of those pleasing ones that whilst innocuous on the surface really does linger in the mind. The cantabile melodic line proves an excellent vehicle for Morrison who produces a beautifully effortless style, often in the higher register of the instrument. Wild Mountain Thyme on the other hand is a traditional Scottish melody attributed to Francis McPeake, beautifully arranged by Baker and featuring fine playing not only from Morrison himself but also from the band.

Mark Freeh's arrangement of the Vernon Duke classic April in Paris will be familiar from several previous recordings and sees Morrison transfer to the flugel horn in an admirably relaxed, suitably bluesy style. The other piece featuring the flugel horn, J M Forde's Domen, hails from Norway and is inspired by the cathedral of the same name at Trondheim. The opening atmospheric bars played by the soloist unaccompanied, reverberate to imitate the acoustics of the cathedral before the mood becomes more upbeat with a prominent part for kit in the closest the music on the disc gets to something more up tempo.

Alan Morrison himself provides three arrangements, amongst them the familiar Ave Maria in a setting with harp accompaniment that lends the music an indelibly pure aura. Lionel Richie's huge hit Hello could sound stilted were it not for the quality of Morrison's arrangement and playing of the utmost quality and delicacy that really is something to admire.

For the pinnacle however it is Morrison's arrangement of Over the Rainbow that possibly shows him at his very finest. Eva Cassidy's deeply moving version of the song won many hearts, with an added gentle twist of irony in that once again it was Terry Wogan who was largely responsible for bringing it to public attention. Morrison is at his very best here in playing of exquisite musicality, sensitivity and control. Put in the simplest terms, it is a joy to listen to.                            

Under the direction of David Hirst, Brighouse provide restrained, at times almost understated accompaniment that is just right for the nature of the music and allows the soloist to shine through in every way.

The disc is attractively packaged in a cardboard gatefold case, albeit predictably leaning to a James Bond theme with a cornet playing figure silhouetted against the "gold" of the instrument bell. Our programme notes came in the form of a separate leaflet leaving us uncertain as to whether the disc comes with any notes at all when purchased from a retail outlet. That said the notes that we received were brief yet informative and would provide a useful introduction to the man and his music for those who are unfamiliar.  

In attempting to release a disc that will appeal to a wide range of music lovers there is little doubt that Hot Records have been successful. It just so happens that in so doing they have also shown Alan Morrison for what he is; namely one of the most gifted cornet players of his generation.

Christopher Thomas

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