Celebration of Mothers Day

North Shore Brass
PumpHouse 13 May 2007
Musical Director: Brent Large
Compere: Jeff Tribe

From the start of the program it was obvious the ensemble on stage meant business.

Adventures in Brass was a great introduction of what was to follow, tight and tuneful it set a high standard for the band to follow.

The delivery of a Disney medley successfully lightened the tone of the day to allow the first soloist Vaughan McDonald to give a beautiful rendition of My love is like a Red Red Rose, this followed with some delightful nuances in Carol Goss's performance of Over The Rainbow .Vaughan was joined by John Sullivan and Kerry Wood to wisk through Trumpets Wild. Standing behind the band was not quite the same as if they had been out front, but effective never the less.

North Shore Brass cornet section

Gaelforce  a celtic dance number is a mine field to play at speed and the North Shore Brass certainly applied the throttle to this performance. It was scintillating, with the Euphoniums and cornets displaying great technique. It was a little loud in places but great to listen to.

After Some One To Watch Over Me, the first half finished with a new arrangement of Bizets Farendole from L'Arlesienne. A classical transposition this worked well for the band and gave an exciting climax to the first half.

Opening the second half with The Champions March,  the band dressed more casually this half entertained with a rendition of the Muppet Show Theme, with  quite a bit of " activity" on the stage.

Keith Pateys jazzy performance of Misty confirmed the 2nd half to be a light affair with the band next involving the audience in singing along to a selection of  the stage show Okalahoma.

A Joy Untold performed by Robert Simpson was quick, really quick in fact. Robert displayed great facility in playing the solo, it was just a little over shadowed by the band dynamic in places. Bad Leroy Brown and Ain't She Sweet were really well received by the good sized audience with much clapping and laugher during both pieces, the little  riffs being carried off well by all the soloist .

The Major work of the day was A Psalm Of Praise by James Curnow. It was well directed by the Musical Director Brent Large with the dynamic contrasts and textures considering the lateness in the program showing the preparedness of the band.

The last  two numbers When the Saints and I'll Walk With God finished the concert in fine style, with a quick encore of Swinging Safari the celebration was at an end.

The Compere, Jeff Tribe, and audience built a great rapport during the afternoon. The band entertained for the entire 2 hours and obviously enjoyed the event. With the talent around the stand I would hope the concerts would happen more rather than less often.

J Mills

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