Fodens Richardson Band

7-Mar-2006

Conductor: Derek Broadbent
Morley Town Hall
Saturday 25th February

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At the end of a busy week in which the band had done two concerts and a recording session the Fodens Richardson Band arrived in Morley to entertain a large audience in this Brass in Concert series.
 
The band conducted by Derek Broadbent got the evening off to a cracking start with the march ‘Under The Double Eagle' by Robert Wagner followed by the great Berlioz overture ‘La Corsair' . This music featured some fine flugelhorn playing from Helen Fox supported by some superb playing all through the band. The conductor pushed the tempo along at a brisk pace that enhanced the overall picture of the music. It was a top class performance indeed.
 
Mark Wilkinson the bands principal cornet delighted the audience with the Charles Aznavor classic ‘She' in which he shaped the music superbly. This soloist is one of the mainstays of the band and both such a good cornet section leader and soloist.
 
The lively ‘Valero' arranged by Sandy Smith moved the concert along at a nice pace before we heard Goff Richards arrangement of Brodsky's ‘I'll Walk with God'.  This music was handled with great sensitivity by the band and conductor with some fine dynamic contrasts evident all through the ensemble.
 
The concert moved on with the ‘Friekugeln Polka' by Strauss arranged by Sandy Smith leading to Glyn Williams thrilling the audience in which he plays seven different instruments in a quite virtuoso performance. Euphonium, horn, baritone, trombone, cornet and soprano finished by percussion all displayed in this 'Courtois Showcase'. The soloist received a great ovation and well deserved it was too.
 
Kenneth Downie has composed some fine music for bands and in his ‘In Perfect Peace' brings out all that is best in brass playing - producing some lovely warm sounds and colour with the band giving a masterclass in how to play with feeling along side some super pianissimo's.
 
The first half ended with Edward Gregson's ‘Laudate Dominum'. The music based on Parry's well known hymn ‘O worship the King' has many changes of tempo and the beautiful lilting section was especially well handled with some great direction from the conductor. The music builds to a great climax and surprisingly the sound became a little on the hard side as a little tiredness crept in. Nevertheless it was a fine performance.
 
Suitably refreshed, Irvin Berlins ‘Lets Face The Music And Dance' opened the second half and dance it certainly did with some fine work from the percussion section. Bernstein's Overture ‘Candide' arranged by Howard Snell is one of this reviewer's favourite pieces. Composed in 1957, this dramatic music got the full treatment with some great playing from soprano and euphonium along side really tight ensemble. There was plenty of brio in this performance for sure and it was immensely enjoyable.
 
Helen Fox chose the great blues number ‘The Very Thought Of You' as her solo in a great arrangement by Derek Broadbent of Noble's classic. The soloist oozed class with a lovely warm sound complimented with fine lyrical playing and which only confirmed her status as one of the finest flugel horn players in the band movement.
 
Peter Graham's ‘Gaelforce' is certainly a crowd pleaser with the band totally at ease in this music with great contributions from flugel, percussion and horns and was followed up with George Thackray on Solo Horn producing a most musical rendering of Arlen's ‘Over The Rainbow' .
 
The Beatles classic ‘Eleanor Rigby' arranged by Alan Fernie kept the evening flowing  with its upbeat tempo and the ending certainly caught the audience out! The last soloist was Les Neish on Eb Bass in ‘Carnival For Bass' with the soloist showing great technique and although the sound needed projecting more at times this young man is a fine player in a fine bass section.
 
The Finale of this enjoyable concert was music from the German composer Carl Friedman in his ‘Slavonic Rhapsody No 2' and this descriptive music was played with great aplomb and was a great ending to the evening. As an encore the band played ‘Entry of the Gladiators'.                                          
 
The concert was well compered by Mike Meadmore and once again Foden's showed what a fine band they are in a programme with plenty of contrast. Most enjoyable indeed.
 
David Tinker