The Brass Band of Battle Creek delighted around 8000 concertgoers in downtown Chicago last night in the extraordinary Millennium Park concert arena.

 

This was a concert the band had been looking forward to for a long time and was the first time they performed in Chicago.  Judging by the reaction of the huge audience it will not be the last time.  Soloists on the night were Rex Richardson (trumpet), Wycliffe Gordon (trombone), Steven Mead (euphonium) and John Beck (xylophone).

The conductor was Sarah Ioannides, an English born orchestra conductor who is fast developing a tremendous reputation in the USA and really got the best out of the band.

The concert programme was:

 

Swing Low/Saints                                            Traditional, arr. Jack Cortner

 

Symphony No. 10 in E minor, Op. 93             Dimitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) arr. Duncan     

III. Scherzo

 

The Rising Sun                                                Allen Vizzutti (b. 1952)

            Rex Richardson, trumpet, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet

 

Americans We                                                 Henry Fillmore (1881-1956) arr. Gray

 

American Civil War Fantasy                           Jerry Bilik (b. 1933) arr. Himes/Gray

 

Pictures at an Exhibition                                 Modest Mussourgsky (1839-1881) arr. Howarth/Gray

15. The Hut on Fowl’s Legs (Baba Yaga)

16. The Great Gate of Kiev

 

 

                                                Intermission

 

 

St. Louis Blues                                                 W.C. Handy (1873-1958) arr. Gordon

            Wycliffe Gordon, trombone

 

Tonight from “Westside Story”                       Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) arr. Freeh

 

Xylophonia                                                      G.H. Green (1892-1939) arr. Maldonado

            John Beck, xylophone

 

Euphonium Concerto No. 1                            Philip Sparke (b. 1951)

II. Lento

            Steven Mead, euphonium

 

Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36               Piotr Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) arr. Ashmore

IV. Finale – Allegro con Fuoco

 At the end of the concert the audience were demanding more, and following a beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace , with arranger Bill Himes in the audience, the band delivered its famous encore Sing Sing Sing, with yet another standing ovation for this incredible group of musicians.

Several members of the brass section of the famous Chicago symphony orchestra were also in attendance,.  It was a night to remember for all involved and another landmark in the history of the sensational Brass band of Battle Creek.  It is hoped that the entire concert will be shown on the musicpage.com shortly.

 

Player roster:

 

Chicago

Sarah Ioannides, Conductor

Eb Cornet

            Ryan Anthony                                   

Bb Cornets

Woody English

Dan Orban     

                Scott Thornburg         

                Rodney Mack            

               John Daniel

                Lenny Foy                              

                John Doyle (UK)

                Ken Bauman              

                Ed Zentera                                                                 

                     

Flugel Horn

            Rex Richardson

                                   

Eb Tenor Horn                                               

            Martin Armstrong (UK)                                 

            Jim Fletcher (UK)

            Lisa Bontrager                                   

 

Baritone

            Gail Roberston           

            Demondrae Thurman 

                                   

 

Trombone                                           

            Scott Hartman                                                            

            Wycliffe Gordon                               

            Mark Frost  (UK)                               

 

Euphonium

            Steve Mead (UK)                  

            Matt Tropman

           

Tuba

            Phil Sinder

            Dave Zerkel               

            Marty Erickson                      

            Les Niesh  (UK)                                 

 

Percussion

            John Beck

            Dave Hardman           

            Dave Ratajczak

            Alison Shaw