Zenith

One of the best youth bands in the land try to hit their Zenith with their latest recording under the direction of Lynda Nicholson.

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St Helens Youth Band
Conductor: Lynda Nicholson
Soloists: Heather Richardson, Fiona Staples, Cameron Bowden, Andrew Moore
WOS Recordings: WOS 002
Total Playing Time: 61.07 

The St Helens Youth Band has long been regarded as one of the premier youth ensembles in the country.

Hard work

The silverware that has adorned their trophy cabinet over the past few years is testament to the hard work, talent and dedication of it players and of its Musical Director, Lynda Nicholson.

The organisation itself is multi- tiered with a flourishing training and beginners band supplementing the senior outfit, which at the time of this recording boasted non fewer than 45 playing members.

Well chosen items

This recording, appropriately entitled, ‘Zenith’ is the culmination of four years of achievement both on the contest and concert platform and is a worthy musical epitaph for Lynda herself, who earlier this year left for pastures new.  

The excellence of the organisation will continue we are sure, but this showcase of 14 well chosen items shows that future generations of St Helens players have a lot to live up to.

The music on display gives every opportunity for the performers to enjoy themselves in varying styles and genres, from the stern hurdles of the test piece ‘Renaissance’ and the delicate precision of the ‘March’ from a Moorside Suite’ to the fun and games of ‘New York, New York’ and the banjo playing hillbillies of ‘Kennesaw Mountain Ridge’.

Each is performed with admirable commitment and enthusiasm, and whilst it does get a bit scratchy and tired in places the overall level of performance is never anything less than excellent.

Bells and whistles

The opening ‘Liberty Fanfare’ is all bells and whistles and full of excitement, whilst ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ is brought to life with a neat sense of stylistic appreciation (they are used to the odd shower in these parts of course).  

Those two test pieces are very well played too, with a nobility about the ‘Moorside’ and a real detailed feel of well rehearsed execution in ‘Renaissance’ in a performance of some stature.  

Exploding talent

The four soloists on display are a quartet of exploding talent, with Heather Richardson all bubbling fun and fine sound on ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’ and Fiona Staples a confident and lyrical cornet soloist on ‘Norwegian Song’. 

Cameron Bowden produces a lovely fruity tone and neat sense of style with ‘Introduction & Burlesque’, whilst Andrew Moore is a very competent and artistic lead in the tenor horn solo ‘Episode’.

Not to be outdone the euphonium and baritone section enjoy themselves with ‘Surrey with the fringe on Top’, whilst the entire band show that they can accommodate different styles with some lovely playing on ‘It had better be Tonight’, ‘New York, New York’ and ‘Moon River’.

Wooden leg

That just leaves ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’, which a bit like Johnny Depp’s accent as Jack Sparrow, the erstwhile hero who seems to be a cross between Keith Richards and Errol Flynn, is an acquired taste. Is it us or does this type of music (Gladiator, Batman, X Men etc) seem all the same? This is ‘Gladiator’ with eye patches, a few parrots and the odd wooden leg. 

Still, no complaints about the way in which it is played, and no complaints about the overall quality of the CD either – a fine achievement and showcase for a fine band.

Iwan Fox

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