Aldbourne

Aldbourne Band
Steve Sykes
Total playing time: 65.39

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This new release from the Aldbourne Band is a little like going into Woolworths and visiting their ‘pick ‘n’ mix’ – you’ve got so much to choose from but in the end you go for what you know, what’s familiar and what you enjoy.  Like anything that’s perishable and something that’s enjoyable, you’ll always go back for more.

In the case of this recording, it’s full of enjoyable concert repertoire – they’ve not tried to do anything fancy and outside their comfort zone; it’s the good old repertoire that they know will tickle an audience’s taste buds and leave them satisfied at the end of a concert.  Not only will they return, but they can pick up a CD of what they’ve heard and play it in whenever they want.

The fact that the band led by the experienced Steve Sykes is in good form on this recording adds to its enjoyment factor enormously.  Throughout the sixty-five minutes, there’s a march, some religious pieces, and five of the bands soloists – all in good form, the only really omission from this recording is an overture – it’s a little like standing in front of the ‘pick ‘n’ mix’ again – its tempting to add something you know you shouldn’t as its outside the budget so disappointingly you walk away, just wanting that little bit more.

You can never go wrong with a march or something from the pen of Gordon Langford and Aldbourne have combined the two here with the popular Famous British Marches full of British patriotism.

The band’s cornet section gets a chance to cut loose in the familiar Trumpet Blues and Cantabile whilst in total contrast Gareth Wood’s Japanese Slumber Song has a calming influence on the ear.

As mentioned five of the bands soloists are featured.  Claudia Tomkins on flugel enjoys herself in You Needed Me as does David Johnson on euphonium in Eric Leidzen’s popular, Home on the Range.

 Percussionist, Phil Trudgeon romps through the xylophone favourite, Helter Skelter, which leaves just two high quality solo performances.

Firstly, Kevin Robbins on Principal Cornet rolling back the years with a cracking performance of Hungarian Melodies arranged by Philip Harper.  Here the soloist demonstrates such wonderful technique in one of those solo’s that was the staple diet at any entertainment contest in years gone by, let alone on the concert stage.

Finally, the band’s Principal Trombone, Stephen Sykes, the son of the MD and familiar tuba player.  Young Mr Sykes recorded this performance just weeks before he became the British Open Intermediate Slow Melody Champion for 2006.  This is a young man, that is certain a chip off the old block, oozes talent and isn’t short of confidence either.  Stephen performs Why Did I Choose You with consummate ease; look out for this young man, he’s certainly destined for good things musically in years to come.

Elsewhere, Peter Graham’s Gaelforce clearly has the band enjoying themselves and if you enjoy a band performing religious repertoire, you’ve got three pieces to sit back and take in.  John Rutter’s The Lord Bless You and Keep You; Peter Graham’s arrangement of Crimond that incorporates snippets of Resurgam and (the nearest thing you get to a pot-boiler of a finale) Peter Graham’s exciting tone-poem, Shine as the Light.

In terms of its commercial intent, this CD sets out what it intended to do: entertain with popular concert repertoire.  There’s plenty of fine playing around the stand – just like the ‘pick ‘n’ mix’ you can delve in and choose your favourites time and time again.

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