GREENSBORO – “Alias Brass” came to Greensboro on Tuesday night, August 6, in the United Church of Christ, and gave a totally engaging concert that connected to the audience not only with their excellent musicianship and innovative programming but also through their spontaneous humor and attractive individual personalities.
The breadth of their arrangements went from Bach, Mozart, Brahmas and Bizet to traditional, big band, Broadway and contemporary compositions that highlighted each of the four main instruments in turn.
The group created a veritable wall of sound as a highly coordinated ensemble that has jammed together since their formation in 2013.
Jonathan Bhatia and T.J. Tesh played trumpets, with Natalie Brooke Higgins on French horn, Dunwoody Mirvil on trombone and Clayton Maddox on tuba. They come from teaching positions in Nevada, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida and get together mostly in the summer for tours around the United States, Canada and internationally.
The performance began with a piece by Kevin McKee entitled “Escape,” apparently about escaping from a volcano. The lively tune had a fast forward tempo with interesting rhythms and textures.
“The Little Fugue in G Minor” by J.S. Bach followed with a multiplicity of voices in compounded counterpoint pushed to its limits, each joining in succession to the initial theme.
“Adoration” by Florence Price had a dreamy ambiance to its lovely melody. She was the first Afro-American woman to have a work performed by a major orchestra. Her numerous compositions have only recently become appreciated, a century after her creative period.
“Amazing Grace” was written in 1779 with moving lyrics about forgiveness. Beginning in a measured pace on Bhatia’s trumpet, the other players joined in and then shifted to the more marching beat of a parade band in the New Orleans style.
“Gabriel’s Oboe,” by Ennio Morricone, from a film, “The Mission,” featured Maddox on tuba in a pleasant theme, well blended with the other brasses.
The Scherzo from the “Piano Quintet in F Minor, Op. 34,” by Johannes Brahms was not as successful a transcription as all the others in this concert, being a little too brash for the mood of the original, although it might have worked better with the mellower French horn accompanied by muted trumpets and trombone.
Another piece by Kevin McKee was “Vuelta del Fuego,” depicting a sword fight with distinctly Spanish rhythms, from the soundtrack of a film.
Following the intermission, “Alias Brass” returned with an all time classic, “St. James’ Infirmary,” coming into the sanctuary from the back, carrying the tuba on its side almost like a body by pall bearers. Mirvil on trombone played some imaginative improvisations with a mute which he opened and closed, producing interesting trills and wah-wah effects, all of which evoked the curious combination of mourning and celebration in a New Orleans funeral procession.
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Harold Arlen, Dorothy’s famous song from the film “The Wizard of Oz,” spotlighted T.J. Tish on his trumpet, a tune which he used to sing every night to his young daughter. Higgins gave an introduction with a short history of the development of her instrument, the French horn, and then led in performing the “Rondo from the Concerto No. 4 in E flat Major” by W.A. Mozart, with its beautiful memorable melody.
Two selections from Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story,” “Maria” and “I Feel Pretty,” were next, with their deep expression of love and joy. Duke Ellington wrote over 3,000 pieces of music in his long career as leader and composer of his big band. His “It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing” sums up a whole era of terrific dance music, here given a well orchestrated and highly integrated performance.
The “Carmen Suite” from the opera by Georges Bizet began with Carmen’s passionate dance, then the toreador theme and finally the bull fight scene. All the musicians had fun with this work; popping up unexpectedly from different corners of the room like Jack-in-the-box figures.
The very entertained audience responded with a standing ovation and “Alias Brass” reciprocated with a short encore.
This was the last presentation of the Summer Music from Greensboro season, which brought five stellar groups, each having a remarkable level of excellence in their performance. We should be very grateful to all those who make this possible.
This review was overlooked last month. In the interest of sharing valuable area activities, it is now included.
David K. Rodgers
David K. Rodgers is a writer, mason and card carrying dilettante, who dabbles and babbles in art. He has lived in East Craftsbury for the past 40 years.
