The Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh provided an elegant setting for the trademark fun and virtuosity of River City Brass.

Although the grand auditorium seemed contrary to the band’s joking nature, the soaring brass harmonies filled it completely as the ensemble chose to abandon their usual formal attire in favour of jerseys and t-shirts representing Pittsburgh’s famous sports teams.   

Special Guests

River City Brass was joined by their juniors in the River City Youth Brass Band, who played magnificently on four pieces, but stayed on stage to observe their senior counterparts in action for the whole concert.  

Most notably, five great young trumpeters whizzed through Leroy Anderson’s ‘Bugler’s Holiday’ as the professional band accompanied.  
 
British tenor horn star Paul Bennett, of the Fairey Band, also joined River City for this concert series.  The tenor horn is uncommon in the United States, but the audience was captivated by his sweet renditions of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’, ‘We’ve Only Just Begun’ and ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’.    

Compelling conductor

Maestro Gourlay has conducted RCB for the past three years, and has clearly built up a great rapport with regular subscribers as well as the ever growing Pittsburgh area audience.  Many have been coming to concerts since the band’s inception in 1981, and there is now a long waiting list for tickets for their eagerly anticipated concert series.

Well known for his humorous approach, the MD had several surprises up his sleeve for the second half; even Paul Bennett returning for his second round of solos in a getup straight from the 1970s - much to the audience’s delight.  

The band followed with a medley of ABBA tunes, led in part by tuba star Jim Stillwagon - in a jumpsuit and wig complete with backup singers and dancers. 

Nostalgic multimedia

The band also presented two pieces with multi-media accompaniments in the first half:  An arrangement of the suite from ‘The Natural’ was paired with a video compilation of glory moments from the Pittsburgh Pirates’ stunning seasons from the 1970s.  

It’s clear that Pittsburghers take great pride in their sports teams; and this audience was no exception.  Audible, sentimental sighs and laughter floated through the hall as audience members reminisced.

Reminder

Meanwhile, Neil Diamond’s hit ‘Coming to America’ was accompanied by archival images and film footage of immigrants arriving at New York’s Ellis Island to make their new lives in the United States. 

It was at once a reminder of the power of the American dream and a memorable ride through a famous pop chart hit.

To close, River City performed the North American premiere of Paul Lovatt Cooper’s ‘Tale of the Dragon’:  The Asian-inspired work’s unique percussion parts rang through the hall for a memorable finish to the night.

Katie Urich