Violet – Volume 1

Brass Band Willebroek

Conducted by Frans Violet

Sång till Norden - Lode Violet A great opening to the CD, a very uplifting and strong composition, the feeling of drive throughout and great sounds across the band make this an ideal choice for the first track on the CD. Hope - Stijn Aertgeerts The title and the opening bars grab your attention immediately, this is a sit back and listen track on the CD, put down whatever you are doing and soak this up, quite stunning writing and so well played, the balance across the band is perfect and you hear every part coming across. A sign of a good track is my inability to move onto the next item without going back for another listen, this got repeated 3 times before I was able to move on, a delight.

Jewish Wake - Simon Van Hoecke A very haunting opening and you feel a journey about to start, exposed sections come across well, controlled and not rushed even though they are quick. A great use of the instrumentation to get the style and sounds across, a great build to finish. As the sleeve notes say ‘Through this composition, Brass Band Willebroek pays homage to the rich heritage of Antwerp, embracing its diverse musical traditions and commemorating the resilience and creativity of its people’. Pulcinella - Philip Sparke Euphonium soloist Kevin Van Giel A piece commissioned by Tzu-Hsiang Lin. The piece certainly explores the range of the Euphonium and every phrase is beautifully crafted by the soloist, no easy short cuts taken, every moment of the solo is there for you to savour and enjoy. Into the quicker tempo and it still feels controlled and easy, space for every note and nothing feels rushed. Bravo to the accompanying band, very much in the background and giving the soloist space to do their thing. A great solo, a great piece and expertly played.

Innuendo – arr. Dr Peter Meecham Trumpet feature Robby Boone & Simon Binon A very clever take on the Queen classic, with some very inventive use of some clever effects which all work well, the track comes across as one that the band will have enjoyed rehearsing and recording, a real joy to listen to, great contrasts and a ‘feel-good’ recording. Explorers on the Moon – Paul Raphael A winning piece for both Cory Band and Brassband Willebroek with the latter coming at the Dutch Open in 2023. An exciting piece of music that tells a great story, the performance on the CD I wasn’t sure would match the ‘live’ performance of the piece, but this is a well balanced performance and recording so gives a real sense of space and time that you get from being in the hall, not easy to do. There are a number of areas in the piece that hold it together and these are all well executed and make this a great listen. The piece is almost 21 minutes long but it is a fantastic 21 minutes.

Mirror of the Heart – Jonathan Bates  Cornet soloist – Lode Violet A beautiful solo, well written and beautifully played, lovely flow and feels effortless, just how you want a solo to be played, you want to sit back, listen and enjoy and with this solo you can do just that. The build in volume is controlled and full of emotion, the band balancing perfectly and it all comes across so well. The Bombardier – T.J.Powell I love to hear a March on a CD like this, rousing, passionate, great dynamics and a such a wonderful sound. A fantastic choice the CD and very well played. Opening Night in Las Vegas – Reid Gilje Great dexterity from the band in the faster moving sections, a lovely feel to the piece and a well constructed composition that takes you to Las Vegas and all the bright lights. A great challenge for the band and it's a challenge well met. A brilliant end to what is a great CD

Overall a very engaging CD, lot’s to enjoy. A well thought out choice of pieces to be included, great to have a March included and definitely a CD I would recommend to Brass Band lovers. To Pre-Order your copy of the CD go to Shop | Brassband Willebroek