Evan’s He Is Good!

A packed Venue at the Leeds College of Music eagerly anticipated Jason Evans on stage but as the young man stepped out and began to play the anticipation soon turned to stunned silence. A concert, which featured his lyrical and technical excellence on the trumpet, was split up by some lighthearted piano pieces from accompanist Martyn Parkes. It is at this point in a review, which anything critical I have to write about the performance would appear. Unfortunately for you, Jason Evans' playing makes for boring journalism. I therefore have to fault Jason on his excellent use of dynamic contrast, his extensive choice of repertoire and his decision to play share my yolk to finish the concert as a tribute to Denis Watkins. Jason Evans has a long way to go before he leaves the Royal College of Music but when he leaves. He will be ready for anything.

Huddersfield Uni Brass Band

No matter what ‘Yorkshire Folk’ love a good brass band. Despite copious amounts of snow remaining around Leeds, a good turn out came to Leeds town hall on February 6^th to watch Simon Lindley, Phillip McCann and the Huddersfield University Brass Band. Mr Lindley played four short pieces on the organ as a change of pace. “A Ticket to ride” has been tried and failed by many a band but on this occasion they really got behind it with the enthusiasm needed to pull it off. Goff Richard’s arrangement of “I’ll walk with God” was used as a fitting tribute to those important figures the Brass world has lost recently.  The trombone feature, “The Blades of Toledo” had the Trombones standing on a platform behind the band. A very impressive staging of the piece allowed the trombone section to show off their talents and be well heard by all attending.