St James Park London - Saturday 13 August 2005

On a quintessentially English Summer's afternoon, St Albans didn't let the weather dampen their spirits and the same could be said of the stalwarts in the audience, taking cover where they could find it. Several even braved the deckchairs for the first 50 minutes! This was the third year in a row that St Albans have been pleased to accept an invitation to play at this prestigious open air venue, and as usual, the band offered a wide-ranging and enjoyable programme of music.

St James Park London - Saturday 13 August 2005

On a quintessentially English Summer's afternoon, St Albans didn't let the weather dampen their spirits and the same could be said of the stalwarts in the audience, taking cover where they could find it. Several even braved the deckchairs for the first 50 minutes! This was the third year in a row that St Albans have been pleased to accept an invitation to play at this prestigious open air venue, and as usual, the band offered a wide-ranging and enjoyable programme of music.

The programme ranged from classical favourites, to the Beatles, big-band swing, marches, contest pieces and a number of solo features. The latter included an impressive performance of Phillip Sparke's "Flowerdale" for soprano cornet by Pete Scrowther and a charming rendition of "Brown Bird Singing" by repiano cornet Michelle McWilliams. The back-row cornets reminded us of Frank and Nancy Sinatra with "Something Stupid" and Scott Garman gave an evocative rendition of "Over the Rainbow" on tenor Horn. Unfortunately, there was no sunshine to generate a real rainbow!  Former principal cornet Nick Garman also treated us to his rendition of the Air and Variations "Facilitata".

Overall, the band was in fine form and was only a pity that the weather didn't allow a few more people to share in the performance.  We'd bathed in sunshine for the last two years, so I guess we were due some real English Summer weather!

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