All Star Yorkshire Brass

Phil Beck Promotions and Yorkshire Day Group
Conductor: Kevin Wadsworth
Uppermill Civic Hall
Saturday 31st July

In my junior school days, all the pupils were divided into houses: Saints' Andrew, David, George's & Patrick.  On those particular days, pupils had extra responsibilities (and got away with murder as well if the truth be told), but respecting the Patron Saints' days was very important. 

It still stands to this day of course that whenever of the aforementioned Saints Day's arrive, it is marked in various ways throughout the country.  In addition, various counties have events as well to celebrate where they are, and the pride that the people who either there can be much more intense or even parochial - just look at the Welsh on St. David's Day (and he was Irish).

In 1974, the UK witnessed a number of boundary changes that certainly didn't meet everybody's approval, and Yorkshire was affected.  According to www.yorkshirenet.co.uk come 1975, and as part of its efforts to preserve the region's Yorkshire heritage, the Yorkshire Ridings Society established 'Yorkshire Day' on August 1st 1975.

The idea of a special day called 'Yorkshire Day' was to provide a focus for highlighting Yorkshire pride in the old White Rose county. August 1st was chosen as it has special significance in the county's history. On August 1st 1759 soldiers, including some from Yorkshire regiments, who had fought in the battle of Minden, in Germany, picked white roses from nearby fields as a tribute to their fallen comrades. Since then a number of Yorkshire regiments wear white roses on August 1st to commemorate the events of that day and heroic deeds of their Yorkshire ancestors.

Phil Beck is a master of his art and was asked by the Yorkshire Day Group to do what he does best - put on a brass band concert.  But what type of concert?  It's the holiday season; the National Youth courses are in full swing, so what does Phil do?  With the aid of son Garrath and Jonathan Webster, Phil puts together an All Star Yorkshire Band who are either Yorkshire born and bred and/or play with a Yorkshire band (although there was the odd one or two players who didn't meet that criteria - but the good Yorkshire audience didn't hold it against them).

The result? Players of the calibre of Phillip McCann (Black Dyke, Sellers), Nigel Fielding, (Grimethorpe), David Thornton (Black Dyke) and Helen Fox (Fodens).  In addition, JJ Lees (Pennine Brass), Mark Bowater (Black Dyke), Simon Gresswell, Darren West & David Clegg (all YBS) and Joe Cook (Black Dyke), Garrath Beckwith (ex YBS), you'd be right to get the impression that those who pulled the band together, had got some of the best in the business for the night.  Too right, and with players from Dobcross, Grimethorpe & NTL Skemanthorpe (Brighouse, Hepworth players were at a wedding just in case anyone wonders how you can a real Yorkshire band without B & R), the musicians put on a really good night.

Being Saddleworth, the night could only get under way with a Whit-Friday march, and one of the best, Knight Templar.  The operatic overture, was Von Suppe's, Light Cavalry, where the legendary, Phillip McCann, who along with Nigel Fielding were simply magnificent.  Between the two of them, they offered more than the notes from their parts - it was sublime playing.

The first soloist of the night was soprano, Nigel Fielding, who did his Luciano Pavarotti impression with Nessun Dorma; flawless stuff, before the band performed some George Gershwin with I Got Rhythm.

What can you say about Phillip McCann that hasn't been said before?  It is just a privilege to be able to listen to one of the doyens of the 'voice of the cornet'.  Breath control, phrasing, style, tone and expression were all there as Phillip performed what is arguably his signature piece, Rusalka's Song to the Moon. Without question, one, if not, the highlight of the whole night.

Irving Berlin's, Lets Face the Music and Dance, was polished off without any problems, before Helen Fox became the third soloist of the night, with a delightful rendition of the traditional Scottish Song, My Ain Folk.

The first half concluded with Sandy Smith's popular arrangement of Slaughter on 10th Avenue.  Proof that even the best can make mistakes are human with someone coming in just bit too early during the piece, but the slip didn't detect from an impressive performance.

The second half was a mirror image of the first.  Great playing, and superbly compered by Gilbert Symes.  The ex-Brighouse bass player is one of Saddleworth's characters and the perfect man for a night like this.  Anecdotes, monologues, banter with the audience and a bit of mickey-taking from the players on stage, Gilbert was the icing on the cake for the night, and he'd stepped in at the last minute, replacing the original compere. 

Pastime With Good Company got things under way, before Jocelyn Robinson, mesmerised everybody in the hall with her lightening rendition of Helter Skelter on the xylophone.

A Breeze down Down Broadway was followed by Faure's Pavane, once again featuring the delightful sound of Phillip McCann, before the night's final soloist, took to the stage.

Black Dyke's David Thornton has just returned from a successful trip to Australia and New Zealand.  The young man certainly enjoyed himself in Peter Graham's Brilliante.  It was a case of whatever the other soloists can do; I'll show you as well.  A few extra notes and chords for good measure, it was a virtuoso performance.

The finale was Howard Snell's classic arrangement of Respighi's Pines of Rome with some gorgeous playing on flugel by Helen Fox, and mention has to go to Nigel Fielding and the cornets for adding those subtle touches that make your hair stand on end. The ending was more like a March home to Yorkshire as opposed to going down the Appian Way.  One thing for sure, the audience certainly couldn't escape the image of a great body of musicians in triumphant mood.

The players wouldn't have got out without an encore which was Johan Strauss's Czardas bringing to an end an enjoyable night that hopefully can be repeated sometime in the future.

Congratulations and thanks to the players, Gilbert Symes, Kevin Wadsworth for stepping in at the last minute, along with Phil Beck and The Yorkshire Day Group for a night where on one side of The Pennines, they celebrated their special day as only brass players could.

Malcolm Wood

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