When Stephen Roberts took on the musical direction of the Birmingham based Jones & Crossland Band in the late 1970’s, he rapidly set about creating new repertoire for the talented ensemble - one that reflected the kaleidoscopic diversity of his own musical hinterland.

Whilst championing contemporary works such as Tippett’s ‘Festal Brass with Blues’ and Henze’s ‘Ragtimes & Habaneras’, his own stream of creativity produced a flow that ranged from ‘The Teddy Bear’s Picnic’ to Prokofiev’s ‘Montagues & Capulets’.

Overdue

This long overdue retrospective release features a welcome snapshot of his innovative output, from his very first,  ‘Londonderry Air’, to his one of latest, with the colourful ethnically inspired ‘World Dances’.

Although the disc does serve as a promotional vehicle for the Roberts ‘back catalogue’, the savvy Swiss publisher Difem has produced a very enjoyable hour of top quality output that balances genres and styles that will appeal to a wide variety of musical tastes.

Classy form

With Stephen at the helm of Foden’s on classy form, the quality of the playing is excellent, whilst recording engineer Keith Farrington ensures that there is a vibrancy to the sound that although bright never sounds harsh.  

The MD steers an entertaining course through the high class arrangements, with the witty original ‘March to the Brasshouse’, written for the television series ‘The Real Brassed Off’, and ‘World Dances’, a colourful four movement suite for youth band that explores a wide variety geographic musicality in vibrant style.

Lyrical

Those early Jones & Crossland days are recalled with, ‘Londonderry Air’ which is  given a lovely lyrical reading, balanced by the power laden ‘Montagues & Capulets’, which grittily captures the bitter acrimony of Shakespeare’s feuding families complete with haunting central interlude.

In contrast, the sonorous strains of the majestic ‘Fanfare from La Peri’ by Paul Dukas takes on a burnished brilliance, whilst the stirring ‘Ameno’, is a concert opener with a real difference – helped by John Barber’s wicked improvisation on trombone.

Laconic

The laconic theme from ‘The Mission’ and the blazing finale of ‘Mahler 3’ both benefit from Foden’s ability to temper its sound palette from pious to passionate, as well as being able to bring toe tapping style and Latin modernity to ‘Gaudete’ - originally made famous by folk band legends Steeleye Span.
  
Arguably less successful is ‘The Best of Hamlet' - a throwback to the days of a pompous Johnny Hallyday and his French prog-rock opera of all things rotten in the state of Denmark. 

Although not melodically un-engaging, even these highlighted excerpts make for an odd mix.

Agile

Stewart Baglin is the agile tuba soloist in ‘Tuba Copper’, a tongue in cheek set of variations on the ‘Policeman’s Song’ from ‘Pirates of Penzance’ adapted from a version originally written for the Fine Arts Brass Ensemble.                 

If there is an oddity about the release, it’s in the programming.

Minor

Placing the life affirming closing section of Mahler’s ‘Third Symphony’ immediately before ‘Londonderry Air’ when the CD concludes with the brief Dukas ‘Fanfare’, is puzzling to say the least, whilst the presentation of the cover and booklet could have been more imaginative and enticing.   

These minor issues aside however, it is a welcome release – and a timely reminder of a talent the banding world has been fortunate to have benefitted greatly from.

Christopher Thomas

Contents

1. Ameno, 3.52
World Dances, 13.50
2. Bhangra Dance, 4.03
3. Island Sun, 2.50
4. Mexican Festival, 2.53
5. Safari Tanzania, 3.04
6. The Mission, 6.08
7. The Best of Hamlet, 12.30
8. March to the Brasshouse, 2.10
9. Tuba Copper, 4.07
10. Gaudete, 2.27
11. Mahler's 3rd Symphony, 5.23
12. Londonderry Air, 3.14
13. Montagues & Capulets, 4.45
14. Fanfare to Precede la Peri, 1.50