The Brass Hub

Follow the progress of the National Band of New Zealand on its tour to the World Music Concourse in Kerkrade.

http://www.nznationalband.com/

Day 1 at the Nationals.  Where do I start?  Probably best to consider the highlights (and some lowlights)

• Paula Russell's performance of Anna Karenina on the Open Cornet.  Accurate, commanding and simply superb.
• Scott Frankcombe - for many reasons.  Turning up for his solo; doing his best to be disqualified for not wearing a uniform; but especially his rendition of Jenny Jones - extremely cheeky/tongue in cheek - and he got away with it by going on to win!  Had us in tears of laughter.
• David King's comments at the end of each session.  Thorough, intense, honest, fair, and sometimes even funny.
• The sound of Nicky Abkiewicz on tenor horn.
• Watching Mareika Gray proudly support players from her band throughout the day.
• The style of Brian McGuinness - well done McGooch!
• Matt Pankhurst's pedal notes.
• Time to have a 3 course meal waiting for the results. Come on organisers - a computer in each hall would have been a good move.
• Not so good was the significant decrease in numbers in the solo events and the distinct absence of many top quality players from the solo scene.
• The masses of people who came to listen to the best players in the country.  I counted 27 people listening to the CofC's. 
• The casualty rate in the Open Flugel - Carisima Mia as the test - a totally inappropriate choice.
• Seeing the Leyland band here - oops...I mean Gunnedah. (Just teasing Jason)
• Watching Robin Ford trying to tell the young guys from Darebin to go to bed and not to drink - yeah.....right.
• Watching 'spock' run the percussion briefing session..can't say too much more - you just had to be there.
• Knowing that I can sleep in tomorrow and that any of the negative things that happened today won't matter one hundred years from now.

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Brass Hub