Big band gold

The CD was recorded in the Spring at Christ Church, which is a church noted for its fabulous acoustics. The recording also includes one organ-based track, 'Finale from Symphony No.3 (Organ)' by Camile Saint-Saens, with the arrangement by James Curnow. It is the organ in Christ Church that is featured, played by Stewart Smith, organist from Christ Church.

The Britannia Band has enjoyed a long and distinguished history. Founded in 1866 it combines a traditional concert band repertoire with contemporary compositions.

A point in case are 'Big Band Classics' and 'Flourish for Wind Band', which are included alongside 'Abba Gold' and 'Thriller! Michael Jackson in Concert'. The Abba tracks (Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia, Winner Takes It All and, particularly, Fernando suit the big band arrangement, with Fernando taking on a distinctly military feel), and the Jackson tracks including 'Billie Jean' and 'Beat It' will put a huge smile on your face, while the Big Band numbers will have you humming along if not singing out loud.

One track which the Britannia Band does huge justice to is 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest', which should be played out loud - with the emphasis on 'loud'.

Modern twists that are both instantly recognisable and enjoyable are 'Highlights from the Jersey Boys' (Can't Take My Eyes off of You' and 'Oh What a Night' translate well musically) while the John Williams track 'Hymn to the Fallen' is treated with such sensitivity that it is as uplifting as it is serene. Taken from the film 'Saving Private Ryan', the Britannia arrangement has an intensity to it that is in many ways down to the fact that it is being played by a wind band, so the flutes and clarinets ring out clearly instead of the 'American smooth' Spielberg version, which has a definite orchestra sound, but somehow feels a little too contained. There is a punch and roundedness to the Britannia version.

This is the sixth album by the band, and is retailing at a cost of 10 available from http://britanniaband.com/onlinestore.html, through band members or at Snappy Snaps, Carlisle Road and Houstons in the Waterside.

Upwards of 40 members of the band were involved in the recording, which took place over two days with further time in the studio for production purposes. It was recorded by Rory Donaghy, Blast Furnace.

"It is our third recording with Rory. He is very good when it comes to technical know-how and we are very pleased to have been back working with him," said band chairman Jim Goodman, adding: "We had two days in the church and five sessions in the studio balancing and editing and the artwork was done by Mark Willett, who is based in the City. It is also the third time we have worked with him as well and we have been very pleased with the last two covers".

The Bandmaster is Ken Goodman.

Tracklist: Army of the Nile (K J Alford); Abba Gold (arr. R Sebregts); The Happy Hippo (P B Smith) tuba solo, Niall Dalton; The Genius of Ray Charles (arr. Michael Brown); Le Regiment de Sambre et Meuse (J F Fauski arr. J S Seredy, ed. Fred. Fennell); Big band Classics (arr. E Osterling); Hymn to the Fallen (J Williams); Clarinet Polka (H Rappel); Thriller! Michael Jackson in Concert (arr. Larry Norred); Flourish for Wind Band (R Vaughan Williams); Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (Hans Zimmer, arr. Jay Bocook); Grand March from 'Aida' (G Verdi, arr. Dale W Eymann); Highlights from Jersey Boys (arr. Michael Brown); The Middy (K J Alford), and Finale from Symphony No. 3 (Organ) (C Saint-Saens, arr. J Curnow).