Rise of the Phoenix

A great release from a hard working band - Clifton rise from the flames like - well, a phoenix of course...

~ Buy with 4barsrest shopping

Clifton & Lightcliffe Band
Conductor: John Clay
Guest Vocalist: Rachel Crisp
Soloists: Graham Cass, David Crisp, Michael Roger, Jason Ward, Vince Wright.
Kirkless recordings: CDKRCD 1070
Total Playing Time:  Approx 70 mins

Yorkshire banding is not just about the likes of Black Dyke, Brighouse & Rastrick and Grimethorpe Colliery – although if you do happen to go along to St George’s Hall for the Area contest, the spotlight does tend to be reserved for them more than most. 

No. The actual strength of the Yorkshire banding movement comes with the likes of Clifton & Lightcliffe. Formed as far back as 1838, the band hails from just outside Brighouse in West Yorkshire and has experienced many an up and down in its long and proud history.

25 years ago the band was one of the 70 or lower section bands that regularly attended the Regional contest – a figure that has now dropped to just over 40. Where others have perished along the way, Clifton & Lightcliffe has survived and now prospered amid difficult circumstances for bands in the county. The title of their CD, ‘The Rise of the Phoenix’ is very appropriate then.

This enjoyable and inventive recording was undertaken in April 2007 at a time when they were enjoying a bit of a purple patch (an appropriate term really given that it was recorded in Brighouse & Rastrick’s West Riding bandroom) and having seen them qualify for the lower section National Finals at Harrogate for the past two years.

They are on good form throughout under the direction of the experienced John Clay, and although there are the occasional unforced errors and technical issues, there is an impressive underlying quality and sense of detailed preparation about the playing from start to finish.

Two major plus points stand out. The first is the inclusion of the young singer Rachel Crisp, an A level student at Chethams Music School in Manchester, who brings a quite haunting quality to her contributions with the band. There is a crystal clear timbre to her voice, allied to a subtle fragility in well chosen items that is really persuasive and attractive.

The second comes from the band itself, with well chosen repertoire that showcases the strengths of their playing. They are certainly well drilled by John Clay and it is nice to hear them deliver controlled performances of the big and bolder items on the release such as ‘MacArthur Park’ and ‘New York, New York’. Elsewhere the sense of detailed preparation comes through with excellent dynamics and tempi in the opening march, ‘Death or Glory’, and reflective control in ‘Londonderry Air’.

The team of soloists are well worth a listen to, with Graham Cass solid and secure on ‘Benedictus’, a vibrant David Crisp pulling out the stops with ‘Solitaire’, and the trombone trio of Michael Rogers, Jason Ward and Vince Wright getting into good habits with ‘Sister Act’.

The release is topped off with a fine composition from the pen of Darrol Barry, which gives the CD its title. Written to reflect those ups and downs of banding life over the years, ‘Rise of the Phoenix’ is a colourful and cleverly descriptive concert piece that rounds off a very enjoyable and well put together release.

A special mention should also go to Holly Crawford who designed the stunning front cover and the production team who keep high standards from the recording process through to the compact sleeve notes. On this form Clifton & Lightcliffe will surely continue to enjoy a prosperous musical future.

Iwan Fox

~ Buy with 4barsrest shopping

^back to top