The very best in brass playing, brass-arranging, and brass-recording. A basic ensemble of some 21 brass and percussion players displays every possible skill in the handling of the superlative arrangements by Eric Crees.
The arrangements are predominantly of music which lends itself ideally to the project; indeed the Bernstein West Side Story and Copland's El salon Mexico come up in places shining in a burnished brass colouring more effective than the original. Just once I thought the undoubted arranging skill was wasted: the Charles Ives Variations on ''America'' seemed beyond saving even by Crees!
Not everything needed arranging; nevertheless it benefited from the stellar standards of performance and conducting. Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man certainly did. The Henry Cowell and Samuel Barber pieces seem less consequential than some of those composers' other music.
There remains the Bernstein Prelude, Fugue and Riffs. This piece was originally commissioned by Woody Herman; but remained unperformed or under-performed, either in its original arrangements or in subsequently re-arranged forms. Has it now a chance again? The solo clarinet part is still there, beautifully played by Andrew Marriner. The rhythm section of piano, string bass and drums is still there. Just the 'supporting' section work is revitalized, marvellously. Has a new masterpiece been born? Certainly one listener is willing to throw away all previously recorded versions of this work, in spite of a guilty feeling that obviously he can never have listened to it properly before. He certainly has now.'