West Yorkshire in England consistantly produces eight to ten of the best brass bands in all the world. The Grimethorpe Collery Band's "Melody Shop" demonstrates why this band is always counted among the finest. This particular CD offers the listener a wide variety of musical tidbits. For the lovers of classical music, Grimethorpe's rendition of the Galop from Rossini's "William Tell" will certainly put you in that Lone Ranger mood!(This piece was heard in the movie "Brassed Off" with Grimethorpe providing the soundtrack for the fictional Grimley Band featured in the movie.)For 70s fans, the band does a hard-charging version of Jimmy Webb's "MacArthur Park."
There is even a hymn on the CD. Barrie Gott's "Lightwalk" (from the old hymn tune "Walk in the Light) actually comes out of the Salvation Army Brass Band literature. I doubt that most listeners ever heard a hymn swing like this one!
My personal favorite is the cut of "Lohengrin: Act 3 Prelude" by Wagner. It is hard to believe that this is a brass band- and I mean ALL BRASS- playing with such fire and technical accuracy. What a group! What a piece! What a wonderful combination!
If you own no brass band CDs, this is a good place to start a collection. It listens "easy," has some tunes you know, and is consistantly entretaining.
