London Central Fellowship Band

An evening of fine music making

Posted by admin on May 4, 2012 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Programme cover from joint concert with Enfield Salvation Army Band and LCFB

A capacity crowd greeted the LCFB and Enfield Citadel Band in a joint concert at Ipswich Citadel. It was a time of happy Salvationist music making enhanced by several father and son relationships linking the two bands. It was good to meet up with KEITH NICE, conductor of The Suffolk Phoenix Band and a former colleague in the Chelmsford Citadel Band. Thank you Keith for accepting our invitation to report on the evenings events.

A near capacity audience greeted Enfield Citadel and London Central Fellowship bands to Ipswich Citadel. Robert Redhead’s A Fanfare of Praise was chosen by Enfield to commence the programme and set the standard for the evening with a controlled and exciting performance. The bands alternated items interspersed with comments from Jonathan Corry and David Daws their respective conductors. London Central Fellowship band chose Ray Steadman Allen’s Take Over Bid as their first item bringing back happy memories of the early days of SA musicals. Mention must be made of Phil Fisher who produced a warm, full sound on the tenor horn in the solo Demelza, and Debbie Crane who added variety with a vocal solo Now I belong to Jesus. Enfield provided a foot tapping rendition of Alan Fernie’s Just a Closer Walk and the first half concluded with a favourite of this listener Kenneth Downie’s Purcell Variations. It is clear from this reading that Enfield are in safe hands with Jonathan Corry.

Kevin Norbury’s march Orwell Park opened the second half, a nice touch by the Fellowship band given that the park is just outside Ipswich and recognises the regional music school held there in the past. Having not attended a SA festival for over 20 years I was intrigued and surprised to see Hello! Dolly on the programme as I was to see Breezin’ Down Broadway, both items given a spirited performance by the Fellowship band. Enfield also included I will Follow Him from the film Sister Act featuring the trombone section, ably led as always by Andrew Justice, they provided a faultless and impressive item.

The bands united for the final items, following a short thought provoking address by Major Graham Mizon they played Lord, With My All I Part. It was good to see Bandmaster Williams take the baton for Erik Leidzen’s march In the Kings Service and the bands responded to his direction. The evening closed with the Fellowship band playing the hymn tune Worcester, there is something special about a brass band playing a hymn tune, and no concert featuring Enfield would be complete without the obligatory Red Shield which this year will be the fiftieth anniversary of its inclusion in Enfield’s programme and still played with great verve and panache.

As someone quite rightly pointed out it was an evening of fine music making with something for everyone.

New names on the home pitch

Posted by admin on May 1, 2012 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

The LCFB at Barnet 31^st March 2012

The band has a close association with Barnet SA Corps, not least because it has band room facilities and rehearses at the corps’ hall in Albert Road. The Saturday evening concert proved to be rather cosy given the congregation of both band and audience within the small confines of the hall. The band offered a variety of musical fare to suit a wide range of choice, Take Over Bid, Breezing’ Down Broadway, and Canadian Folk Song Suite were amongst items featured. In addition to spots from our regular soloists, there were some new names on the bill including Andy Thomas, trombone, with Bill Broughton’s Let the Beauty of Jesus, and James Adcock, hot from his recent elevation to principal euphonium in the Territorial Youth Band, delighted us with the euphonium solo Commitment (Lloyd Scott, arr Stephen Bulla). In contrast, another first timer, Caroline Seredynski, chose the music of Liszt to demonstrate her talents on the piano.

Keith Wilkinson’s arrangement of Blaenwern concluded a reflective interlude from the band’s newly appointed Executive Officer, Major Graham Mizon. Graham’s succinct comments left us pondering whether our faith in Jesus was helping us to thrive, rather than barely survive.

Captain Julia Adcock (Corps Officer) expressed thanks to the band before we played out with Cole Porter’s Be a Clown.

Tiptree Encourage the Encouragers

Posted by admin on Mar 19, 2012 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

February saw the band in deepest Essex at St Luke’s Parish Church,Tiptree for its first concert of the new year. Some time before the opening bars of Orwell Park, it was apparent that more chairs were required to satisfy the growing numbers eagerly arriving. A varied musical feast was provided, which, whilst building on previous repertoire , included some first time performances of recently rehearsed music. Several of the numbers featured on the band’s CD “Bandology” were featured including Where I Love to Be, Quando Quando Quando, Worcester and the Listen to the Band signature tune Soldiers in The Park. Making first performances were Robert Collinson’s Mini Fantasia on a London Theme and Morley Calvert’s ever popular Canadian Folk Songs Suite.

Regular soloists, Alan Garratt,Cornet; Jim Rogers,Flugel; Ken Stones, Euphonium; contributed respectively Misty, Doyle’s Lament, and All the Ways God Has Shown. As ever it was a great inspiration to hear our very own Don Lusher look a like in the form of Don Jenkins give such a masterly trombonic performance of The Londonderry Air.

Due to the unavoidable absence of our principal cornet Dave Thomas, we were delighted to welcome Roy Kirsop as guest principal. He further enhanced the evening with some masterful piano solos including Greigs Wedding March. It was also a pleasure to have two additional cornet players making their first appearance with the band, namely David Marley and Caroline Seredynski.

The evening was ably compared by Bandmaster David Daws, who’s witticisms were dangerously encouraged by an exuberant audience who were shouting for more (music) by the conclusion of the evening. We played out with Bandology, after which we really had to say “no more” and leave the stage.

It had been a great encouragement to play to such a receptive audience. It was good to meet new people as well as friends from neighbouring Salvation Army Corps . The band’s mission statement refers to being encouragers within the Church, clearly the Church had been encouragers to the band.

LCFB plays Birmingham Symphony Hall

Posted by admin on Jan 3, 2012 in Uncategorized | 97 comments

LCFB on stage at the Birmingham Symphony Hall, November 2011

LCFB brought its 2011 season to a close on 29 November with a successful visit to the Symphony Hall in Birmingham to play to an audience of some 1,500, gathered for the Extra Care Charitable Trust 2011 World in Union Concert. The event also included other special guests Tom O’Connor, Rustie Lee, Gary Lovini and Kirsty Michele Anderson amongst other well known artists.

The band featured in a number of cameo spots, and Bandmaster David Daws’ leadership ensured generous applause from the initial sparkle of Bandology, the signature march from the band’s CD of the same name, through to the Proms feature that closed the programme.

The band’s second spot show cased Breezin’ Down Broadway, which had the audience tapping their toes and enjoying songs from well known Broadway shows, followed by a testosterone packed brass and vocal version of Hello Dolly! that was rewarded by a loud ovation of appreciation. Jim Rogers’ warm, honeyed tone in the flugel horn solo What a Wonderful World followed and took the audience to a quieter, reflective place of appreciation.

The Grand Finale of the event featured the band leading a Proms section, during which the audience took full opportunity to sing along to Jerusalem and a selection of carols, enjoy an accomplished cornet solo by Dave Thomas, who played Nessun Dorma, and engage in a spell of national appreciation through Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance, which seemed to be accompanied by hundreds of swaying Union Jacks. To conclude the Proms feature nationally acclaimed soprano Kirsty Michele Anderson was accompanied by the band in performing I Vow to Thee My Country – a delightful and moving ending.

- TJS November 2011

Pre-Christmas Concert at Lovat Fields Retirement Village, Milton Keynes

Posted by admin on Jan 3, 2012 in Uncategorized | 89 comments

The band returned to Lovat Fields Village, Milton Keynes on 26 November 2011 to start the Christmas season, and played to an audience of over 200.

Having taken the opportunity to arrive early and “exercise their plastic” at the shopping centres in Milton Keynes, the band started its concert with the classy march Orwell Park, cruised through Take Over Bid and then changed the mood with Latin versions of Where I love to Be and Quando, Quando, Quando sandwiched by two exquisite cornet solos by Dave Thomas: the Mexican inspired Chiapaneacas and an imperious performance of Nessun Dorma. The first half of the programme was completed by a euphonium solo from Ken Stones (All the Ways God has Shown) and a master class in sensitive high range playing from Don Jenkins, who must be at least as young as Cliff Richard, with the trombone solo Londonderry Air finished off with a classy pianissimo high D. The Band concluded a rousing first half programme by regaling the audience with a sparkling performance of Breezin’ Down Broadway.

A brisk rendition of Soldiers in the Park commenced the second session, which featured a flugel horn solo from Jim Rogers, who delighted the audience with a mellifluous rendition of What a Wonderful World, and an upbeat version of vocal solo Now I belong to Jesus by Brian Huke.

Vocal duets in each section of the programme from Celia Dashfield and Dawn Turner, Because He Lives and If the Saviour stood beside Me, were very well received. A reflective period featured an arrangement of the hymn tune Bowes, This I Know, underlined by telling words from Alan Garratt.

The band concluded the evening with a taste of the Proms, featuring an arrangement of Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance march, Jerusalem and I Vow to thee my Country, prior to a brace of Christmas Carols to herald the Christmas Season.

Wanting more, the audience implored the band to perform two extra pieces including a dashing version of Jingle Bells and the march On the King’s Highway. They were left wanting still more!

- TJS November 2011

‘Bandology’ CD Review: The Salvationist

Posted by admin on Jan 2, 2012 in Uncategorized | 3 comments

In the 19th November 2011 edition of the Salvationist, the weekly newspaper for members and friends of The Salvation Army, Dean Jones reviewed LCFB’s latest CD Bandology.

Among many positive comments, Jones commented “The band has put together a vast array of music sacred and secular encompassing enough diversity to give every listener something to enjoy”.

A PDF copy of the full review can be found here.

The LCFB at St Albans Salvation Army

Posted by admin on Nov 6, 2011 in Uncategorized | 120 comments

Flugel horn soloist, Jim Rogers, performs during the LCFB concert at St Albans

A warm and eager audience greeted the band on the occasion of its second visit to the St Albans Salvation Army Hall in the last four years. A virile rendition of concert march Bandology, (Osterling), set the pace for the evening . There followed a varied programme of easy listening from a wide range of musical genres. Solo contributions included the band’s principal cornet Dave Thomas playing Chiapanecas, a Keith Wilkinson arrangement of a Mexican folk song, Ken Stones , euphonium, featured Howard Davies’s solo All the Ways God Has Shown and Jim Rogers, flugel, provided What a Wonderful World arranged Alan Fernie. Brian Huke’s vocals brought music from a variety of sources including an unaccompanied African gospel song.

The Bands contributions included several of the numbers featured on its new CD Bandology, such as Take Over Bid, (Ray Steadman-Allen); Breeezin Down Broadway,( Goff Richard); and a new Martin Cordner festival arrangement ,The Call of the Gospel, specially written for the band.

The contrast of excitement and vigour, against contemplation and profundity was typified by the big band idiom exploited in Rieks van der Velde’s arrangement of How D’ya Like Your Eggs In The Morning and Howard Davies’s Song arrangement This I Know based upon Ray Bowes’s setting to the words Jesus Loves me This I Know.

The Corps Officer, Major David Squibb, brought the gathering to a close, kind words of appreciation to the band were offered followed by the blessing. The band, or should it be the bandologists, played out with the Leidzen march On The Kings Highway.

The band was pleased to welcome into the band on cornet, John Street. It was also good to see (and hear) the return of Ian Grimes (Eb Bass) after a cycling accident; Max Rogers (BBb Bass ) following surgery on his foot, and Gavin Mann (Soprano), after a tour of duty in Germany with the Regimental Band of The Irish Guards.

LCFB features on Radio 2′s Listen to the Band

Posted by admin on Oct 27, 2011 in Uncategorized | 84 comments

LCFB's CD, Bandology, featured on Radio 2's programme 'Listen to the Band'

The LCFB were honoured to be featured on BBC Radio 2′s programme ‘Listen to the Band’ on Wednesday 26th October 2011.

Known by many brass band enthusiasts as one of the best radio programmes for showcasing and celebrating brass and military band music, Listen to the Band is presented by well known British musician, conductor and broadcaster Frank Renton.

Wednesday’s programme featured an interview with Warrant Officer Class 1 Esther Freeborn who has recently been appointed as the first female bandmaster of the Household Cavalry. Alongside this, Frank reviewed some of the best of the new CDs, amongst which LCFB’s latest CD, Bandology, featured.

The cornet solo ‘You Made Me Love You’ featuring David Daws and the LCFB was the featured track from the CD and was highlighted with other releases from Black Dyke and the European Brass Band Championships 2011.

The programme can be listened to online here.

Great Crowd…..Great Spirit…..Great CD!

Posted by admin on Oct 7, 2011 in Uncategorized | 44 comments

LCFB latest CD - Bandology

The LCFB under the direction of David Daws launched its new CD, Bandology, at Hendon Salvation Army Hall on September 10th. The more than capacity crowd was quick to show its appreciation of the bands efforts over the past year , a highlight of which was a recording session with World of Brass in June.

The concert featured special guests, including cornetist Neil Day (East Yorkshire Motor Services Band), vocalist Deryn Edwards, and pianist Elliot Launn. The band music presented was, in the main, performances of tracks featured on the CD.

The band commenced the programme with the title track Bandology which set the tone for an uplifting evening of music making . Other contributions from the band included Take Over Bid,-J. Larsson arr Ray Steadman-Allen , Where I Love to Be, -Davis arr K Larsson, the hymn tune Worcester, and festival arrangement The Call of the Gospel, specially written for the band’s CD by Martin Cordner.

Elliot Launn’s interludes on the piano provided contrasting musical colour with superb performances in both soloist and accompanying roles.

Deryn Edwards gave us some awesome vocals including a performance with the band of Now I Belong to Jesus arr Bill Broughton, which is featured on the CD.

Neil Day delighted the gathering with some great solos including Life’s Pageant –Camsey, My One Desire -Davies and The Paragon – Sutton. It’s been great to work with Neil over the past weeks…..here’s to the next time!

All too quickly the evening drew to a close with the old favourite, Leidzen’s On the King’s Highway.

Why not indulge by purchasing this new recording of easy listening music which, in addition to titles from the traditional “Judd Street” repertoire, has drawn from sources perhaps not so familiar, plus a selection of exquisite cornet solos from David.

CDs are available at £13.95 plus £1.50 postage and packing from:

Dawn Twist
22 Harrow Road
Leighton Buzzard
Beds
LU7 4UQ

01525 854254
ash.twist@btopenworld.com

Click here to listen to selected tracks from the CD.

Don’t miss out order while stocks last! The ideal “easy listening” Christmas gift!