Niall Keatley (trumpet), Alan Thomas (trumpet), Andrew Sutton (horn), Amos Miller (trombone) & David Gordon-Shute (tuba).
(Review by Russell).
Onyx Brass is an established classical chamber ensemble approaching its twenty fifth year. The quintet’s recordings are regularly heard on Radio 3 and a key component of the group’s activities is the commissioning of new work from composers working not only in the contemporary classical field but in the world of jazz and beyond.
This King’s Hall lunchtime concert heard eight pieces, of which two featured students from Newcastle University’s Brass Ensemble augmenting the established quintet. The programme ranged from Monteverdi to Bach to Imogen Holst to contemporary figures working in the jazz world – Mike Walker and Jason Rebello. The quintet’s tuba player David Gordon-Shute introduced each piece in a relaxed yet informative manner.
Baroque polyphony to a mid twentieth century folk-inspired suite by Imogen Holst (the Leiston Suite being performed publicly for the first time in about fifty years!) to a world premiere performance of guitarist and composer Mike Walker’s Let Her Go, this King’s Hall concert delighted a capacity audience. Gordon-Shute warmly welcomed several of the music department’s students to join the ensemble to play Imogen Holst’s Fanfare for the Grenadier Guards and Samuel Scheidt’s Galliard Battaglia. Two student trumpeters acquitted themselves with distinction as did their fellow students; variously French horn, trombone and conspicuous by its absence, a tuba player. Gordon-Shute chided the music department for failing to attract students of his chosen instrument!
Next month – March 23 – Archipelago will be performing in King’s Hall at 1:10pm. The regional based trio – Faye MacCalman, reeds, a graduate of Newcastle University, John Pope, bass, a fellow graduate, and drummer Christian Alderson – explore jazz, freeform episodes and more. Admission is free, put the date in the diary.
Russell.
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