Richard Marshall
Black Dyke
Conductor: Dr Nicholas Childs
Featuring: James Shepherd
Doyen Recordings: CD 266
Total Playing Time: 72.44

The craftsmanship of true brass band cornet playing is alive and well and being lovingly cherished and enhanced by Richard Marshall: He is an outstanding inheritor of a heritage in real danger of becoming a forgotten musical art form.

His approach is not however choked in the indelible tint of musical sepia. 

This is thoroughly modern playing imbued with value and respect.

Sharp edged showcase

The 14 tracks are performed with a freshness that blows away the encrusted dust of over familiarity, revealing sharp edged showcase works that have long provided the foundation stones of virtuoso solo playing.

This impressive production is helped in no small measure by the contributions of the sympathetic accompaniment by Dr Nicholas Childs and Black Dyke, the engineering excellence of Richard Scott, enlightening sleeve notes by David Read and the added bonus of hearing the man who remains the embodiment of timeless cornet class, James Shepherd.

Exquisite technician

Marshall is an exquisite technician; facile and controlled, fully aware of the difference between tasteful artistry and tactless showboating. His production throughout his range is nigh on faultless, his palette of skills, immense.

However, there is more than mere ‘technique in excelsis’. 

He is blessed with an intuitive appreciation of phrasing; a lyricism imbued of musicianship.   The 14 solos are reborn with a modern relevance, despite the somewhat carbon dated compositional style.

Priceless ability

Marshall’s integrity as a performer is without question: He has the priceless ability to mould and shape his tone and style to encompass musical diversity without artifice. 

There is an authentic capriciousness to the polkas, sweetness to the lyrical arias, delicacy to the Edwardian melodies, a bold stamp of authority to the show tunes.

The duets are a reminder of times and tastes past, but delivered with an unquestionable respect for both his fellow performer and the artists they celebrate.

Artistry

In an age of heritage reappraisal, this release reminds you that the timeless attributes of high class musical artistry are alive and well and in no need of being pointlessly reinvented.

Richard Marshall deserves his place amongst the finest exponents of the craft of true brass band cornet playing. 

Under his curatorship we can look forward to many more years of musical artistry.

Iwan Fox

Contents

1. The Paragon,�����Edward Sutton, 5.28
2. Macushla, Dermot MacMurrough, 3.11
3. Dot and Carrie, John H. White, 5.39
4. Zelda, Percy Code, 7.26
5. Una Voce Poco Fa, Gioachino Rossini, arr. Denis Wright, 5.16
6. Willow Echoes, Frank Simon, arr. Fred Muscroft, 4.04
7. I Hear You Calling Me, Chas Marshall, arr. J Ord Hume, 3.30
8. Arbucklenian Polka, John Hartmann, 6.27
9. The Nightingale, Harold Moss, 5.19
10. Solitaire, Neil Sedaka, arr. Stephen Corbett, 4.16
11. Pandora, Eugene Damare, 7.27
12. Mac and Mort, Harry Mortimer, 3.30
13. The Watermill, Ronald Binge, 4.00
14. Jenny Wren, Roland Davis, 5.49