Lexington Brass Band

Lexington Brass Band with soloist Roger Webster Skip Gray, Conductor 7:30 P.M. May 28 Chris Kemp, reporter blah Playing in the style of the traditional British brass band, the Lexington Brass Band, which draws it's members from seven area colleges and universities, presented a program of music as diverse as Henry VIII and Duke Ellington.

After a prelude by the University of Georgia Trumpet Ensemble which performed Fanfare for Six Trumpets by David Deubay, a concerto by Telemann, and Flourishes by William Davis, the Lexington Brass Band took the stage.

The opening strains of the first piece presented the full and rich brass band in all its glory. The second piece, a solo tuba feature, showed what a melodic instrument the tuba can be, and demonstrated the talents of the soloist, David Nesbitt, who glided easily over the solid foundation provided by the rest of the band. The second piece, Ellington Fantasy proved beyond a doubt that a brass band can swing.

Roger Webster's solo piece, Concerto for Cornet and Brass Band, by Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen, was an avant garde composition that provided a sound not usually associated with a brass band. Roger's clean tone and obvious technical proficiency along with the acumen of the band produced a delightful pallette of tone and color.

The band's next selection was more traditional, in the modern sense, with contemporary rhythms and style.

After intermission the band opened with Heralds of Victory, by Richard Holz, a traditional sounding (old-time traditional) piece that featured the entire cornet section, twelve in all. Roger Webster then returned for his second solo piece which showed off his lyrical qualities and velvet tone. As with all the great performers this week, he made it all look so easy. Webster's third solo, Cleopatra by E. Damare, was a feast of technical brilliance showcasing his mastery of the cornet.

Next the band played a four movement work which was written in 1995 for the United States Marine Band Brass Choir to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima. The Lexington Brass Band can play as soft as a summer breeze and then knock you over with a wall of sound.

For the final piece of the evening, Roger Webster was joined by Terry Everson on Quicksilver for a fun duel matching the two cornetists up beautifully.
After intermission the band opened with Heralds of Victory, by Richard Holz, a traditional sounding (old-time traditional) piece that featured the entire cornet section, twelve in all. Roger Webster then returned for his second solo piece which showed off his lyrical qualities and velvet tone. As with all the great performers this week, he made it all look so easy. Webster's third solo, Cleopatra by E. Damare, was a feast of technical brilliance showcasing his mastery of the cornet.
After intermission the band opened with Heralds of Victory, by Richard Holz, a traditional sounding (old-time traditional) piece that featured the entire cornet section, twelve in all. Roger Webster then returned for his second solo piece which showed off his lyrical qualities and velvet tone. As with all the great performers this week, he made it all look so easy. Webster's third solo, Cleopatra by E. Damare, was a feast of technical brilliance showcasing his mastery of the cornet.

Skip Gray, Conductor