Gresley Old Hall Band

Annual Concert
Gresley Old Hall
Sunday 10th April

On Sunday Evening 10th April, Gresley Old Hall Band and Gresley Junior Band gave their Annual Concert at Gresley Old Hall to what was for everyone concerned (especially the band treasurer) a sell out.

The ‘full house' signs had been out for a while, but it must have been a great feeling for the bands involved to perform to an appreciative audience, and one that was determined to be entertained.

The Gresley Band were conducted by their popular Musical Director David Hutchinson, who began this concert with a cracking run through at top tempo of the Cole Porter tune, ‘Another Opening Show', which set audience up for a concert with a theme of popular tunes running throughout.

With a short introduction they continued with an old brass band favourite ‘Elizabethan Serenade', which took this reviewer back a few years, but was just right for the eclectic generations that made up the full hall.  This was followed by some very tasteful cornet playing by Principal Cornet Graham Croft who chose to play ‘Rusalka's Song to the Moon' and who was then joined by Debbie Smith to perform the cornet duet of the popular hit made by Nancy and Frank Sinatra 'Something Stupid' in wonderful fashion.

Film music was next up with something for the younger listeners in 'Chicken Run', which was followed by a fine bit of solo playing by Euphonium player Karl Eames, who performed ‘Anything But Lonely' from ‘Aspects Of Love'. 'I Will Follow Him' and the old foot stomper, the ‘Floral Dance' brought the first half to a close.

The second half began with the Gresley Juniors who were conducted by Fay Bayliss who played a selection in 4 movements of "Party Mix, Big Band Disco Style, Lounge Lizard & Bass Runner," which they brought off with a great deal of panache and which brought a huge smile to the face of the MD, her charges and every member of the audience!

Gresley Old Hall Band returned with the classic ‘Aces High' from the well known war film classic ‘The Battle Of Britain', before a real blast from the past with the novelty item, ‘The Tops' which featured Graham Croft, Tony Bayliss and Debbie Smith.

'Can't Take My Eyes Off You' provided trombone soloist Chris Smith with a great vehicle to showcase his talents, and that was followed by the ever popular ‘Putting On The Ritz' and ‘Time To Say Goodbye'.

The final item of the night this was from one of the best films ever made in the form of the musical ‘West Side Story', and this just went at a great pace with the final section having a new look to it, which took the audience by surprise a little.

Throughout the evening the music was played to the highest possible standard that the band always perform at their concert, and there was time for a quick announcement for the forthcoming making of the band's C.D, which will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the formation of the band. This will all been well be launched in October at the Bands Concert in Burton Town Hall.

William Shankly

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