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CONCERT REVIEW: UNIBRASS 2022 GALA CONCERT
BY OLIVER PLANT
A superb day of banding at the University of Sheffield on 5 February was topped off with a spectacular trombonethemed concert from Friary Brass Band, Dennis Rollins MBE and Bone-afide!
Friary Brass Band opened with Malaguena and the Overture to Colas Breugnon which was both audibly and visually fantastic. The band’s precise togetherness was supported by a phenomenal percussion section. Friary’s Musical Director, Chris King, then introduced Dennis Rollins MBE to the stage, who performed such panache with his unique Gillespie-esque Rath R3. Jazz funk brass band pieces are quite scarce but there were some amazing arrangements including Earth, Wind and Fire’s Fantasy and Maynard Ferguson’s Chameleon. A special highlight was Bill Geldard’s Autumn Leaves enabling Rollins to display his gorgeous tone and his elegance, with every phrase becoming more and more breathtaking.
Bone-afide entered the stage playing Irish Washerwoman. New member, Rob Moseley, kicked off the set with some meticulous playing accompanied by Bone-afide’s sonorous sound. Angus Butt on bass trombone providing an incredibly satisfying foundation, making it look and sound effortless. On their own, Bone-afide performed David Faleris’ City of Arts and Sciences, which won them the International Trombone Association Quartet Competition in 2020. With the melody passed around the group, it is hard to keep track of who is playing with their sounds blending so beautifully. Ending the first half with Sam Every’s arrangement of The Beatles classic Yesterday, Rollins was invited back to the stage to play alongside Bone-afide and Friary Brass Band. The communication between the five trombonists and the band was truly superb with Rollins and Merin Rhyd bouncing off each other displaying their class and improvisation.
The second half kicked off with a programme derived from Friary’s previous Brass in Concert programme, featuring Isobel Daws (aka Princess Isobel!). With Tim Mylechreest narrating, Friary played Love Medley and What a Wonderful World, performed by their principal cornet, Richard Straker. Played with such elegance, the relaxed nature of this performance was reflected with some exquisite playing. The Dukes Journey by Callum Au featured famous Ellington standards, which brought Dennis Rollins back into his element. Lovely moments from the soprano cornet added to the band’s ability to switch between genres, which was impressive and captivating. Up next was Isobel Daws with Arthur Pryor’s Thoughts of Love, performed with incredible finesse and flamboyance. Following a very enjoyable and entertaining performance from Isobel, who is off to study in Berlin at the Karajan Academy, were two crowd favourites which were fantastically arranged by the band’s MD, Chris King. Featuring tuba soloist Ross Graham, the theatrics of Your Song and I Wanna Dance with Somebody conveyed real emotion and enjoyment from the band. Jaco Pastorius’ The Chicken was the perfect way to round off a fantastic Gala Concert from all.
Bravo to all those involved in making UniBrass and the Gala Concert a huge success, proving that during these unprecedented times, the power and emotion from the highest calibre of brass playing shines through.
Oliver Plant is a trombone and euphonium student at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. ◆
DENNIS ROLLINS. PHOTO CREDIT JAMES WOOLLEN
L-R ISOBEL DAWS, MERIN RHYD, DENNIS ROLLINS, ROB MOSELEY, ANGUS BUTT. PHOTO CREDIT JAMES WOOLLEN
