The Gala Concert of the Brass in Concert weekend should provide the perfect vehicle for the invited participants to demonstrate their entertaining talents in full.
However, the reality is that with such a prestigious title up for grabs the following day, any competing bands can be forgiven for keeping their high octane feet off the gas pedal.
Driving Miss Daisy
That was what happed here. It wasn’t quite ‘Driving Miss Daisy’, but neither Grimethorpe nor Cory really had any intention of blasting away like Lewis Hamilton on an Abu Dhabi F1 track - not with that major Grand Prix prize up for grabs.
Perhaps the knowledgeable local audience knew that all along, as the hall was only two thirds full. Many people it seemed were keeping their hard earned cash in their pockets to see the two title contenders battle it out in full throttle mode the next day.
Comfort mode
This event could start to become a hard sell for the BiC organisers (and they are not alone - it was the same at the pre-contest concerts at the Open and Nationals) as punters start to wonder if listening to ‘comfort mode’ concert banding is worth the ticket price.
Restrained
Grimethorpe under Dr Robert Childs delivered a first half that was enjoyable, familiar fayre - played in a restrained manner. They never really got out of third gear.
Alford's march, 'Colonel Bogey' was a decent opener, whilst the world première of Karl Jenkins' 'Gloria' never quite captured the rapt engagement of the audience, despite some fine solo work from David Moore on flugel and the MDs intuitive appreciation of the musical shape.
Michael Dodd (who later fell ill with serious food poisoning that led him to miss the contest the next day) delivered a no nonsense take on 'Napoli', before the Miner's hymn, 'Gresford' was beautifully played, accompanied by evocative imagery.
Peace on earth
The evening’s guest soloist was Central Florida MD, Chad Shoopman, and his first half contribution was a very different take on 'O Holy Night' - no peace on earth with this ear splitting playing, ably supported by Kevin Crockford on soprano.
Things were rounded off with a slick, but dated 'Pel Mel', whilst Dan Price's enjoyable 'Dear Old Blighty' did seem more suited to a flag waving carnival day rather than a Gala Concert.
Low revs
Cory also took the option to keep the playing revs away from the red danger zone, as Philip Harper led the band through a programme that only at times flickered into turbo charged life.
John Wasson's 'American Fanfare' linked straight into T J Powell's march, 'Thundercloud' before Chris Thomas delivered a delightfully controlled performance of 'Romanza'.
Throb
The reflective 'Hymn to the Fallen' and Philip Littlemore's beautiful arrangement of 'O Magnum Mysterium' came either side of Chad Shoopman's searing account of 'Give it One' - which certainly made the temples throb - especially for those in front few rows of the hall.
Martyn Patterson wasn't at his usual best in Peter Graham's 'Brilliante', before the Welsh outfit bid good night with the upbeat 'Gwerzy' to round off their set, that just like Grimethorpe, was played with a noticeable touch of reserve.
The evening was rather summed up by the reigning champion making a swift exit to the pits even before Frank Renton could get centre stage for a few last words.
Malcolm Wood
