Usk (Conductor: Jamie Jones) -

Band Number 16. 

Usk Brass Band (Jamie Jones) - Five Blooms in A Welsh Garden 

Another Youth Band Set up, first one for a while and 4 Trombones! 

A nice clean start flowing well, just a couple instances of intonation issues but very soon resolved and back on pace. Great Trombone sound, full and rich.

Transition works well, Bases providing the walking steps with action on top of this. Great dynamic difference like a whisper. Front row Cornets pick up the tune which works very well before it transitions to lower band who also perform it very well. I’m enjoying all the effects going on in this piece. A lovely end to the first variation. 

It takes a small while to fully settle but once it does we are introduced to a lovely tune. PC takes over an obligato which is performed beautiful. Bravo. Usk have controlled themselves very well through a fiddly little passage with parts of tune being passed around every bar or two. Beautiful Sop note perfectly centered. Bravo. Solo Horn takes over and has a beautiful production quality which is very easy to listen to. Bravo. Back Row Cornets then take over, what a strong section they are beautifully balanced between you all. Bravo all. Another tight ending to the next variation. 

A good opening navigating a tricky passage. Flugel takes over in a solo and this is another beautiful produced sound wow. Bravo. Then links very well with the Sop. Solo Euph takes over a cadenza, amazingly played with style and class. Bravo Sir. 

We open up into a lovely melody, this is a lovely refrained performance so far. Rise and Fall is effective. What an amazing build up. There’s the full sound! This is so controlled and sounds so rich in flavours what an amazing sound. 

Muted cornets effect is really good. We then launch back into the start of the variation with ease but PC has the solo this time and performs this beautifully. A few intonation slips between parts in octave with each other but this doesn’t distract from the wonderful playing and sound the band is making. We ramp the speed, WOW! Sop launches into a soaring line over the top which rings beautifully in the Bradshaw Hall. Bravo Sir. Very lovely Euph tune follows before being taken over by the Cornet section. Call and response works, a tad unbalanced but very minimal. What a great sound the Trombones are making. And then we drop to absolute nothing again showcasing the dynamic capabilities. 

This is a great build up to the grand finish. 

Lovely performance, thank you.

~ Sam E.