Just over a year ago, Brass Bands England's Liaison Officer Rachel Veitch-Straw was tasked with finding a brass band to collaborate with renowned Indian composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Shri Sriram (above).
Shri, famous for his unique style of bass guitar playing and his ground-breaking sound wanted to link up with a brass band for his 'Just a Vibration' project, which would link to the melodies, harmonies and street brass sounds of his native India.
Spectacular results
Alongside his small team of hand-picked musicians, including arranger/saxophonist Ben Castle and Jasdeep Degun on sitar, they met up with the Hammonds Saltaire Band and their MD, Morgan Griffiths — and the results have been spectacular.
Superb musicians
Now the premiere will take place at the forthcoming Durham BRASS Festival on July 19th — with Rachel Veitch-Straw one of many looking forward to hearing the music live.
"It's been great to have been able to connect such superb and diverse musicians in this exciting project,"she said. "I'm especially pleased for Hammonds who are showing the way for other bands to try something new."
Further opportunities
That was certainly a view shared by Hammonds Saltaire Chairman, John Myles. "We are pleased to have gained so much here; a musical challenge, new experiences, new performance venues and widespread publicity already leading to further opportunities for the band.
It's been really positive to work with Brass Bands England, Shri and Ben, and we are now looking forward to our next artistic challenge."
We are pleased to have gained so much here; a musical challenge, new experiences, new performance venues and widespread publicity already leading to further opportunities for the bandHammonds Saltaire Band
Festival attractions
This year's festival celebrates the diversity of brass sounds, from funky Fun Lovin' Criminals and Home Service, to Hackney Colliery Band, Hope & Social, Renegade Brass, New York Brass Band and His Magestys Sagbutts and Cornetts .
There will be swing music featuring Durham Youth County Big Band and tributes to Benny Goodman, Glen Miller, and Duke Ellington, as well traditional brass sounds from the likes of Tredegar, Cory and Reg Vardy Bands.
'Just a Vibration' premieres on Sunday 19th July at the Gala Theatre, Durham.
Tickets
Tickets for BRASS 2015 are now available at www.brassfestival.co.uk
For a taster of 'Just a Vibration' go to:
