Festive Impressions

YBS Band
Conductor: Professor David King
Soloists: Stuart Lingard, Iwan Williams, Andrew King, Sheona White
Egon Recordings: CDSFZ129
Total Playing Time: 63.41

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This is a very classy release from a very classy band.

'Festive Impressions' is ostensibly a musical reminder of the ‘Brass Down Under' tour the YBS Band undertook to Australia in 2005, but in many ways it is much more than that.  After an 11 year period of generous sponsorship from the Yorkshire Building Society, the tour represented an ambitious redefining of the band itself. 

Amid rumours and speculation that this may have been a last spectacular hurrah for the band David King had moulded into one of the most successful contesting outfits in modern banding history, they instead used it as springboard for its future artistic and financial development. The tour was an unprecedented success; the host of concerts were sell outs, culminating in a truly memorable finale at Sydney's most famous iconic landmark, whilst the musical legacy they left continues to reverberate around the Australasian continent as well as further afield.

For its Australian born conductor it provided the opportunity to show his fellow countrymen the magnitude of his musical achievements. His band was exceptionally well drilled and professional in outlook, whilst the performances were masterclasses of the very best attributes of a modern brass band. From Perth to Melbourne and from an emotional return to Newcastle and finally to Sydney, the lasting impression was of musical excellence.  Nearly 100 years after Besses O ‘th' Barn gave Australian banding the impetus it needed to develop in the 20th century, YBS gave them it's ambition to finally come of musical age in the 21st. 

This release showcases some of the music they used to do just that - an eclectic selection that although technically well within their capabilities, cleverly illuminates the very musical virtues that have stood this fine band out in the past decade or more: The superbly vibrant sound with the ability to change timbre, the subtle command of colour and texture between sections, the supple musicality of both ensemble and soloists, and above all, the acute direction of the MD.

Although it is not clear whether the recording was made pre or post tour, the quality of performances never falls below expectations, despite (rather disappointingly) not knowing the exact personnel on show.

The four soloists are on excellent form. Stuart Lingard is an elegant presence on his two contributions as well as a very focused and precise section leader, whilst Iwan Williams displays the unique velvety texture to his playing that has become his hallmark. The pyrotechnics are provided by Andrew King on trombone who breathes new life into ‘Bluebells of Scotland' with a performance of exquisite control and Sheona White, with a stunning romp through ‘The Piper o' Dundee' that skips along with a fine sense of dark malevolence. 

The title track ‘Festive Impressions' perfectly captures the composer's ambition to create a cinematic musical palette, whilst there is a real tub thumper of a signature tune march ‘Keighley Moor'.  The ubiquitous ‘Irish Blessing' is subtly shaped and the band enjoy themselves with the lollipop that is ‘Hedwig's Theme'. Brodszky's ‘I'll Walk with God' is as richly coloured as Mario Lanza's singing was in ‘The Student Prince' and there is also a fine example of controlled balance and warmth with ‘Londonderry Air'.  Robin Dewhurst's rather meandering ‘The Flight of the Wild Geese' is brought to life with precision and subtle changes of style (even though it is rather overlong).

The real gem though is the performance of the foxtrot ‘Samum' by Carl Robrecht. Here is a near perfect example of a lost art, and one that should be heard by just about every band on Planet Banding.  The music may have come from the librarian's cupboard more yellow round the edges than Ronaldo's football shirt, and muskier than a pensioner's airing cupboard, but what an absolute sparklingly fresh cut glass diamond of a performance it gets here.

This is almost miniature orchestral ensemble playing; a form of light chamber music, delicate and precise in style, yet dark and almost sensuous in execution. The balance between the leading lines is stunning, whilst the precision of ensemble playing is as good as you ever likely to hear. The foxtrot is an amazingly difficult stylistic oeuvre to capture in its glory, but here it is like listening to a musical time capsule.

Overall ‘Festive Impressions' is a fine and very classy recording indeed. The production values are first rate (Brian Hillson's production work in particular should be noted for its clarity and balance), as is the sleeve note information and art work. The Australians now know what it takes to be one of the best brass bands in the world. Let's hope they don't waste a tremendous legacy.

Iwan Fox.

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