May has been an unusually eclectic month at All Brass Radio — with the top spot changing hands on numerous occasions between genres, artists and bands.
In the end it was Waitakere Brass from New Zealand that topped things with their performance of 'Festival March Celebration'. It was written by Major Leslie Condon for the 75th Anniversary of the International Staff Band in 1966.
As always the beautiful sound of cornet player Kirsty Abbott is a perennial favourite with All Brass Band listeners, with her recording invariably featuring in the podium slots. In May it was the haunting 'Papa Can You Hear Me' from the film 'Yentl', accompanied so sensitively by the Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band.
Third place this month went to trombonist Brett Baker and Black Dyke, with their performance of 'Dark Eyes' recorded in 2004. It's a superb bit of playing — following in the tradition of other trombone great show have played it such as Tommy Dorsey and Jack Teagarden.
Highly featured
Two highly featured tracks this month come from donated CDS; 'Green and Gold' (march) played by the Guernsey Concert Brass, which was the first ever donated recording to us, and 'The Pink Panther' from a recording by Houston Brass Band which was donated about 16 years ago.
Other notable tracks to make a mark this month include 'Fuego!' by Tom Hutchinson with the Cory Band, 'Shine as the Light' by Pikes Peak Brass Band and 'Pyrotechnic Variations on 1812' by played by Woodfalls Band.
Always available
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Top 20:
1. Festival March Celebration (Waitakere Brass)
2. Papa Can You Hear Me? (Carlton Main Frickley Colliery)
Soloist: Kirsty Abbott
3. Dark Eyes (Black Dyke)
Soloist: Brett Baker
4. The Flower Duet (International Staff Band)
Soloists: Derrick Kane & Stephen Kane
5. Fuego! (Cory Band)
Soloist: Tom Hutchinson
6. The Pink Panther (Houston Brass Band)
7. Shine as the Light (Pikes Peak Brass Band)
8. Tonight (Tongwynlais Temperance)
9. Love Changes Everything — Desford Colliery Caterpillar
10. Folk Songs from Somerset (Cory Band)
11. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (Black Dyke)
12. The Occidental (Fairey Band)
13. Coming to America (Brass Band of Columbus)
14. Pyrotechnic Variations on 1812 (Woodfalls Band)
15. 76 Trombones (Hammonds Saltaire Band)
16. Green and Gold (Guernsey Concert Brass)
17. Truth Aflame (International Staff Band)
18. Men of Harlech (Tredegar Town Band)
19. Myfanwy (Unison Kinneil Band)
20. America (Ever Ready Band)
