AUTUMN BRASS
AND SWING CONCERT
18th October 2002
Once again the band were joined by the Spalding Grammar School Big Band for their Autumn concert. It turned out to be one of the best performances by the band in many years. The big disappointment was in the number of audience - less than 30! Those who came were treated to an excellent concert by both bands and what they lacked in numbers, they made up for in enthusiasm.
The Town Band took the stage and the Big Band set up in front of it. Mel Hopkin is the Musical Director of both bands. The bands alternated throughout the evening, playing 1 or 2 pieces each. In addition to the Musical Director, Philip Edgeley and Andrew Butter play in both bands - Trumpet in the Big Band and Cornet in the Town Band.
The Town Band have introduced some more challenging pieces into their repertoire and have met the challenge very well. They performed the first movement of Holst's 2nd Suite in F and Ceramic City Festival.
The Town Band performed Aces High, and the Musical Director dedicated it to Tom Snape, the band's Chairman and Solo Horn who had died recently. Guest player Ros Sharman kindly stepped in to play Solo Horn.
The Big Band had a few problems leading up to the night. The MD had known in advance that the Tenor Saxophone section would be absent but he had arranged for Matthew Lond, a former tenor saxophone player, now peripatetic music teacher, to return for the concert. On the morning of the concert, he received a message that the band's keyboard player had been taken ill and would be unable to attend; also, the bass guitar player had been hit in the eye with a squash ball and was unlikely to be fit enough to play.
After a few frantic phone calls, the MD found that last years keyboard player was coming home from university and would be able to play. The bass guitarist also managed to play despite his injuries.
The Big Band's performance was magnificent and greatly appreciated by the other musicians and the audience alike.