Gresley Old Hall Band and Junior Band
15-Jul-2005Conductors: Nigel Boddice and Fay Bayliss
Gresley Old Hall
Saturday 2nd July
Saturday evening 2nd July saw a concert given by Gresley Old Hall Band & Gresley Junior Band, at Gresley Old Hall to yet another sell out audience.
The Gresley Old Hall Band had a very special guest conductor for the concert with the recently appointed M.B.E and former Principal Cornet Player of the band, Nigel Boddice taking the helm as regular conductor David Hutchinson was on holiday. The Junior Band meanwhile was conducted by Fay Baylis.
The Gresley Band and Nigel Boddice opened up the concert with a good old favourite and classic audience please, ‘Sousa On Parade' and this set the tone for the evening to come with some neat and accurate playing. This was quickly followed up with the Beatles hit, ‘A Ticket To Ride', before the band then whipped up a fine rendition of the Irving Berlin classic arranged by Steve Roberts of ‘Putting On The Ritz' which got the audience in hand clapping and foot tapping mood.
A change of style was then on offer with the first of three solos by the band. ‘Send In The Clowns' this was just heaven played by soprano player of the band Ian Dawn, who captured the moment perfectly, whilst ‘Trumpets Wild' with Graham Croft, Tony Bayliss and Debbie Smith followed. To finish the first half the band played the beautiful ‘The Girl With The Flaxen Hair' and the old classic foxtrot ‘Samun' by Carl Robrecht that does not get played to often these days, but was given an authentic airing.
If the first half was anything to go by the Gresley Juniors had to really show their spurs – and they did just that with a good showing to begin the second half with a lively little number called ‘Lounge Lizard' followed by ‘Bass Runner' and ‘Out & About'. They finished with a march called ‘Seaham Town' and showed that each time they perform at the concerts they show great improvement, since been formed in September 2002.
The second half continued with some film music with ‘Chicken Run' arranged by Sandy Smith, before solo baritone player Steve Draycott played a wonderful reading of ‘Music Of The Night' which featured a fine tone and sympathetic style.
It was all change then as Nigel Boddice took over as compere for second telling a few funny jokes to the audience and introducing the next two items to be played. The horn feature ‘Hey Jude' started in traditional fashion before, after 5 bars, Nigel stopped the band and asked the audience where were they for the singing of this well known song!
He then gave them a quick lesson and all was well for the band to play with the audience singing along to it in authentic 1960's ‘Flower Power' style! This was then followed by ‘Conquest Of Paradise' from the stinker of the film (one critic remarked that it would have been better for all concerned if old Columbus had sunk rather than find the New World) before leading the way to the trombone solo played in fine style by Chris Smith.
It was then the turn of the audience with Gresley Band playing three movements from ‘Cry Of The Celts' – complete with more hand clapping and more foot tapping as well as a great joke from Nigel Boddice at the end of it as well!
‘Amparito Roca' this went at a terrific pace and left the audience spell bound at the speed and controlled playing that was shown, before to finish the band played the well known and loved 70's hit ‘Music' by John Miles, which brought the audience to a standing ovation at the end, with shouts of more!!
Nigel Boddice asked the audience how many of them could sing in Russian – although not suprisingly, blank faces were shown and shaking of heads came from them.
The Band were laughing at this as ‘Kalinka' was on the stand ready to be played, and the bands Principal Eb Bass Player Peter Hylton got up and showed them how it went. All they had to do was put the words to it, and this proved no problem as Nigel said to them - "Just Hum that tune it will be ok for now"! It brought the concert to a great finish.
Ian Perks.
