One of the banding world's finest cornet players is getting ready to release a brand new CD.
The final touches are being put in place for Alexis Demailly's latest recording which will feature a number of exciting new collaborations with leading composers and cross-medium genres from the likes of Stan Nieuwenhuis and Peter Meechan.
There is a brilliant taster to enjoy at:
Out of the box
Both are delighted to have been involved in the project, with Stan telling 4BR: "It's very nice to be involved where thinking out of the box is the standard.
The unusual but beautiful combination of a brass soloist with string accompaniment for 'Fantasque' was by far my most interesting commission in a long time!"
Fall from Grace
He added: "Alexis also made a splendid recording of 'Fall from Grace' which I wrote for Harmen Vanhoorne a couple of years ago.
It's a work with electronic accompaniment that contains quotes of Muammar Gadaffi. It is still very relevant in a world full of war. The technical and stamina challenges didn't faze Alexis at all!
I'm looking forward to the release of this album and I'm sure that brass band fans and musicians will love this unique CD."
I'm looking forward to the release of this album and I'm sure that brass band fans and musicians will love this unique CDStan Nieuwenhuis
Absolute pleasure
Meanwhile, Peter Meechan added: "Writing for Alexis is an absolute pleasure — an artist whose musicianship you know you can instinctively trust, who has a sense of lyricism and phrasing that is a rare quality.
As soon as he asked me, I knew exactly the type of piece I would be writing for him, and his recording of 'Meditation' really is more than a composer could ask for."
Keep your eyes peeled over the next week or so as further details are released.
Video taster:
