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Re: concert at nationals -Reply

On Mon, 27 Oct 1997, Edy Van Asch wrote:
> 
> I have to disappoint the Dyke fans and players on the list. I have spoken
> different people in Belgium who joined the latest gala concert at the UK
> Nationals. Their comments were quite unanimous
> - The salvation army was brilliant (always in balance, great sound,...)
> - James Morrison was OK as an entertainer (some called him a great circus artist
> while not the greatest of players)
> - Dyke's opening with the Olympic theme was very impressive, the rest of the
> program was not: very loud and aggressive, accompaniment not together,...  .
> 
This is my tuppence worth re. Dyke's (general) sound:

It is consistent ....... it is still marketable to a very large (& often 
international) audience 
.... and it is adaptable to whatever sort of music Jim Watson and 
composers/arrangers throw at the players ... it has therefore lots to 
commend it!!

However ...... I have some opinions on individual player's styles and 
techniques, and these are as follows (& are based on live concert 
performances 
spanning the last 2 or 3 years and not one solitary performance such as 
last Saturday at the Royal Albert Hall, which unfortunately I wasn't able 
to attend personally):

Kevin Crockford:  Wonderful soprano player who is never afraid to "go for 
it" (quite an animal in fact!) ..... it is a pity that sometimes this 
means his sound pierces the eardrums like bullets and carries so well 
above the rest of the band .... and he messes up quite a bit too on stage 
(but I am nevertheless still WELL IMPRESSED).

Bob Childs:  Again a lovely sound .... getting a bit boring when 
ABSOLUTELY EVERY ONE OF his 
featured solos involve musical "pyrotechnics".  I much prefer to sonorous 
tone as displayed in the "big tune" part of Jupiter from The Planets (for 
example).

Matthew Baker:  Very good technical player ......... better as an 
ensemble player rather than a soloist (he is nowhere near in the same 
league as Roger Webster, Ian Porthouse, Jim Davies et al.)  For my money 
I would have Lee Rigg on Principal again ..... he's done it before quite 
successfully after all .... much nicer cornet sound that Mr Baker (for 
those who don't know Lee ... he currently plays rep. with Black Dyke).

Simon Cowan:  Again a formidable player and easily "up to the job" that 
Dyke require from him ....... but my money for sound goes on Nick Hudson 
I'm afraid (& he's better looking too IMO!)

Les McCormack:  Dear ol' Les (colloq. speaking - he's only a youngster 
really!) something of a Cinderella amongst the Black Dyke 
soloists ...... why don't we get to hear you more often??????  I'm sure 
from little snippets I have heard that you are up there with the Gordon 
Higginbottom's, Sandy Smith's, Sheona White's of this world ..... but it 
would be lovely to have my theory confirmed once and for all.

James Watson:  Having seen JW perform on stage (on trumpet) with the 
LSO Brass, and watched him bring out the best of Dyke with limited 
rehearsal time, I have nothing but admiration for the guy (he used to 
conduct 
Crystal Palace BTW ...... before my time unfortunately).  I really think 
he is a good front man for Dyke because of his wealth of experience and 
diversity of musical background/genres.  More power to his (left) elbow!!


In particular, re. last week's gala concert at the RAH, I would like to add:

I was unable to attend ..... but enjoyed what I heard on last week's 
"Listen to the Band" program on BBC Radio 2 ....... in particular the 
Olympic Theme & Fanfare mentioned earlier.

But in fairness to Black Dyke ...... is it any wonder their sound might 
have come across as harsh in the Gala concert after the heavy weekend 
THEY'D had, i.e. on Friday alone they had: a LONG trip to London; a workshop 
with Peter Graham on "On Alderley Edge" at the Regent Hall followed by an 
extremely heavy INAUGURAL CONCERT at the Royal Academy (that bastion of 
musical excellence where nothing less would have done than "Connotations 
etc.") ........... and then a rehearsal with James Morrison on Saturday 
pm ........ no mean feat for any bandsman (& I would like to hear what 
Edy van Asch's band would sound like after THIS amount of playing such a 
variety of musical styles).  James Watson said it all at the 
Academy - these 
players are all (but I would say in the main are) AMATEURS ....... the 
contest & concert-going audience must 
remember that and not be too adversely affected when their performance 
does not quite come out at 100%  ..... I'm sure the lads 
certainly 
give maximum effort to the job in hand every time they're out ..... but they 
are mere mortals the same as 
you and I at the end of the day.  Please therefore give them credit where 
credit is due and accept the (infrequent) blips with good grace ..... 
unless YOU personally can do better of course!

By all means badger the "behind the scences" officals for change if you agree that sometimes too 
much is expected of them within the timeframes available ....... it would 
be helpful if you could back up your criticisms with hard cash to keep 
the band viable in the meantime <tongue in cheek expression>

All the best.

Angela Tregaskes

REST OF EDY's POST SAID:

> I must 
say, it is a bit the same the last couple of years with Dyke. Dyke is
> almost always playing very loud and aggressive with Kevin Crockford as the
> exponent: he's a great player but why is he always playing above the band,
> always to long at the end note,.... ? Meanwhile James Watson seems to ask the
> players for more and more (louder and louder).
> 
> Dyke has been known for decades to have the biggest sound, the most musical
> playing,... Those were the times with e.g. Roy Newsome, Peter Parkes and David
> King. Since Watson arrived they turned on another way which many of us regret.
> Apart from that we must admit Dyke won several contests although the band lost
> its golden crown to Fairey who took over (not to surprise thanks to several
> former Dyke players and conductor and as a result also its sound and general
> style of play).
> 
> I wonder how the list thinks about the Dyke-metamorphose especially the Dyke
> players on the list like Les McCormack?
> 
> Edy Van Asch
> Tenor Horn
> Metropole Brass Band
> 
> 
> >>> Phil Green <goaty@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 24/10/97 10:08 >>>
> On 23 Oct 97 at 13:10, BRITCLIFFE@xxxxxxx wrote:
> 
> > In a message dated 23/10/1997  08:24:56, you write:
> > 
> > << Did any of you out there get to the evening concert? It was out
> > of this 
> >  world. Dyke were superb!  >>
> > 
> > well, naturally!
> > 
> > jim britcliffe
> > 
> 
> What does 'well, naturally!' mean?  Do you know something the rest of 
> us don't?
> 
> I read that Dyke got 19 votes in Normans poll as to who would win 
> this years nationals.  Just goes to show doesn't it.......
> 
> 
> 
> Phil Green.
> Solo EEb Bass
> Fodens (Courtois) Band.
> 
> 
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