Reviewed by Stephen Luff

A band like the Black Dyke band with its 150 year history will have a back catalogue of music that very few others possess. This CD continues to explore this vast treasure to the delight to those who listen! The opening march, written in 1900, "The BB&CF" provides a suitable fanfare for the first class showcase of brass that follows. The next, "The Bandsman Overture" premiered in 2012, brings the collection up to date with a piece that sounds a little like a 1970's TV theme in places! I especially enjoyed Dvorak's "Song To The Moon" from the Opera 'Rusalka', the energetic "Tribute To Glen Miller" (too short for me at under four minutes!) and Agrell's "Gospel Time" with its magnificent trombone soloists. My only grumble was the Halloween piece "Spooktacular" which starts bizarrely with an excerpt from Carmen, followed by "Casper The Friendly Ghost" and then "Dies Irae" ("The Day Of Wrath") taken from Verdi's 'Requiem Mass', a mix that may sit uncomfortably with some! That said, listening to this collection, it is not hard to see why the band enjoys the status they do!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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