When I’m travelling in the car to a contest or concert, it’s very rare that a brass band CD is put into the car stereo player: I’d rather prefer Brian Matthews and ‘Sounds of the Sixties’ or the football on 5 Live. 

It’s just that with hearing bands all day ‘in the flesh’ so to speak, I would rather be listening to a completely different style of music or tune in to the weekend sport.

All change

However, that may all change from now on, as Cory’s latest ‘In Concert’ CD is one of the most enjoyable travelling distractions I’ve heard in a while.

The football results may have to wait, as ‘Volume 4’ includes their 2013 ‘Brass in Concert’ winning programme, plus nine, yes nine, great soloists in superb form. 

First rate

‘Sound the Bells’ gets the disc off to first-rate start, followed by a slightly truncated ‘Spirit of Pageantry’, which oddly loses its sense of balance with its brevity. 

However, the enthusiasm that permeates ‘Mambo Caliente’ is utterly infectious, whilst ‘Dreamtime’, with stentorian narration by Philip Harper, cleverly conveys the Aboriginal creation story and the sounds of Australia complete with authentic didgeridoo. 

‘From the Hillside’ is simply gorgeous: a melody that tugs at the heart with a beautiful lead flugel and pedal bass notes to die for. It’s such a straightforward item, but when shaped so sympathetically by the MD, is magical in its execution.

Stars

The real stars though are the soloists - led by the brilliant Tom Hutchinson who simply fizzes on the ‘Harry James Trumpet Concerto’, although the sleeve notes mistakenly say it was written in 1985 for Alan Morrison to play in ‘Best of Brass’ (Gerard Schwartz actually played it at the 1977 Nationals concert). 

That minor aside, the line-up who follow are on equally cracking form, as Steve Stewart, Richard Davies, Steve Kane and Max Ireland, all strut their stuff in some quite outstanding contributions. This is high quality playing in anyone’s company, let alone the Cory bandroom! 

Stand out

Two do stand out though even in this class, with Owen Farr taking his turn to mimic the likes of Menuhin, Heifetz and Perlman with his own sparkling arrangement of Bazzini’s ‘Dance of the Goblins’ - played with such a swagger that it won’t be just the old violinists who will wonder just how he does it.

Chris Thomas also gains yet more plaudits for a suave, sophisticated ‘Londonderry Air’, whilst Matthew White, in his swansong, is superb in ‘Two Folk Songs from Valdres’.

Tea break

The whole package has been neatly produced in concert mode as it were - with an audience, courtesy of cartoonist ‘Nezzy’ added to the front cover, and even an ‘intermission’ added if you want a tea break.

And here you should really go and make a brew because the second half begins with Dave Mitchell’s barnstorming vocal rendition of ‘Climb Every Mountain’ which opened their successful ‘Brass in Concert’ programme in breathtaking style. 

With the virtuoso ‘Finale’ from Rachmaninov’s ‘Piano Concerto No3’ bringing it all to a rousing conclusion, it rounds off a release of outstanding merit. 

Bliss

Although the bonus track seems unnecessary and clumsily placed, this is undoubtedly 74 minutes of terrific entertainment.

And that adds up to travelling bliss - as so you can treat yourself to a few pushes of the rewind button and still catch the final five minutes of the football coverage on the radio. 

Steve Jack

Contents

1. Sound the Bells!, John Williams, arr. Luc Vertommen, 2.51
2. The Spirit of Pageantry, Percy Fletcher, arr. Sydney Herbert, 6.25
3. Trumpet Concerto, Harry James, arr. Elgar Howarth, cornet soloist Thomas Hutchinson, 3.34
4. From the Hillside, Alan Fernie, 4.45
5. Trumpet Concerto (3rd movement), Johann Hummel, arr. Vernon Post, soloist Steve Stewart Trumpet, 4.35
6. Alfie, Burt Bacharach, arr. Denzil Stephens, flugel soloist Richard Davies, 3.07
7. Dance of the Goblins, Antonio Bazzini, arr. Owen Farr, Tenor Horn soloist Owen Farr, 5.00
8. Dreamtime, Dan Price, 7.45
9. Climb Ev'ry Mountain, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, arr. Philip Harper, Dave Mitchell (Vocal),4.06
10. Y Deryn Pur, Traditional, arr. Alan Fernie, Baritone soloist Stephen Kane, 5.12
11. Lux Aeterna, Philip Harper, 3.45
12. Two Folk Songs from Valdres, Traditional, arr. Frode Rydland, euphonium soloist Matthew White, 4.25
13. Mambo Caliente, Arturo Sandoval, arr. Sandy Smith, 3.08
14. Londonderry Air, Traditional, arr. John Iveson, Trombone soloist Christopher Thomas, 3.16
15. Rondo alla Turca, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, arr. Paul Lovatt-Cooper, Xylophone soloist Max Ireland, 3.18
16. Finale from Piano Concerto No. 3, Sergei Rachmaninov, arr. Philip Harper, 9.15