Monument, by Marc Owen, was written for the Leeds University and Black Dyke Band Composer's Competition in 2001, and here receives ints premiere recording and gives the disc its title. The sub-titles of the work's three movements indicate the style of the music; Allegro de Bravura, Solemne-New York 11 Sept. 2001 reflecting the sadness, horror and utter devastation of 9/11, and Presto Molto Agitata-Free Spirit. Brett Baker gives an excellent performance of the concerto and is ably supported by Black Dyke whose accompaniment, particularly in the third movement, is an integral part as the Free Spirit flies away!

The silky smoothness of Bill Geldard's arrangement of the traditional tune Dark Eyes contrasts with William Rimmer's triple tongue polka The Hailstorm which, whilst a novelty on the trombone, receives a slick and showy performance.

Two items are unaccompanied: firstly, the premiere recording of Sonata by Ivor Hodgson, whose two short movements explore the full range of the trombone and secondly Gareth Wood's Four Pieces for Four Trombones. Tango aptly describes piece one; piece two entitled Song has the melody in the first trombone; piece three, Parody is fun, whilst piece four, Lament, is unlike most music with this title in that it has happy moments. Both works are a model of unaccompanied playing with the quartet being notable for the balance of the four parts.

Brett Baker makes Tommy Dorcey's difficult fun piece Trombonology sound easy, which in this Alan Fernie arrangement also features John Doyle on flugel horn. Peter Graham's The Name, based on his own song written for The Salvation Army There is beauty in the name of Jesus, is expressive and has excellent control. Arthur Pryor's Thoughts of Love, written when he was only 18 years of age, is an absolutely show stopping performance of superb quality, and Howard Snell's arrangement of A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square is dreamingly sentimental and quite lovely.

The third premiere recording is Paul Lovatt-Cooper's Earth's Fury. Composed especially for Brett Baker, the work is graphically descriptive. It firstly depicts a small American town that is destroyed by a twister, whilst the second movement - Fallen Memories - is reflective as rebuilding commences, and finally in Succeed the Storm the original ideas return as the town is almost back to normal. This short concerto of approximately eleven minutes receives a wonderfully expressive performance from both soloist and band and brings the disc to a fitting close. Needless to say Black Dyke's accompaniment throughout is exemplary.

Trombonists will love this CD. It comes complete with excellent biographies of the soloist and the composers and has comprehensive programme notes. Also included are potted CVs of Dr. Nicholas Childs and Black Dyke Band, plus a number of photographs. It is thoroughly recommended.

Sydney Swancott
The Conductor - Spring 2005