Amazing Brass Record!
Trumpet Implosion | New York, NY, US | 06/03/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am a brass player who owns many brass records. I have been a fan of the Canadian Brass for many years. They have made (and contiue to make) many enjoyable records and I have to say this is their finest to date. The playing is first rate. The arrangements are remarkable. The recording quality is crisp, clean and clear. I recommend this to anyone who wants a real toe-tapping experience. I gaurantee it will put a smile on your face. Thank you Canadadian Brass for adding another important recording to your amazing discography and to music world in general. Spectacular!"
Canadian Brass Forever!
J. Maxwell Fletcher | USA | 05/21/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Canadian Brass add another great album to their long and distinguished discography. This time they salute America with an album of patriotic songs, military anthems and historic American tunes.
The title track - Stars & Stripes Forever by Sousa - is a wonderful arrangement of this classic march, played with great spirit and perfect punctuation. The Brass is joined by a small battery of percussion that really light up this album and help in the overall welter of sound. It's hard to believe its just five brass players and the drums with all the music going on! Military Might honors the five branches of the service in an original arrangment by the great Howard Cable, a composer known for his band and wind arrangements. The band then offers works that define the United States - from the colonial days (Chester, My Country 'Tis of Thee and Hail Columbia) to the Civil War (Battle Hymn of the Republic, Johnny Comes Marching Home and the impressive and fun Dixie's Land) up to today (A George M. Cohan Salute and the famous march National Emblem). They also include two versions of the Star Spangled Banner - a unique 1814 version that sounds more like a military tatoo as well as the more popular version we all know. The arrangement of Shenandoah is as good as any you'll hear. The Brass give the drummers a chance to show off their stick work with a track called Drums of Liberty that any percussionist would find impressive . Absorbing and mesmerizng, it actually becomes a long intro into the final track - O Canada, a gift to Americans, so say the notes. What a wonderful gift!
If you love the Canadian Brass or Americana - get this album. Full of life and highly recommended."