A Fresh Sound For Your Favorite Movie Themes
Ronald Griscom | Pennsauken, NJ USA | 06/20/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Start with a great list of popular movies themes, mix in the great sound of the one of the world's best brass bands, and you have the recipe for a very entertaining album. Grimthorpe Colliery Band, featured in the 1995 movie BRASSED OFF!, is one of the top brass bands in the U.K., perhaps the best in the world. Their warm and dynamic sound lends a freshness to music that equals -- and sometimes surpasses -- the orchestral arrangements we heard in the actual movies.
The band has selected a broad range of themes, including four John Williams themes. The selection spans a broad range of time -- from classic themes from THE GREAT ESCAPE and BEN HUR to more modern films such as CHICKEN RUN and GLADIATOR. The JAMES BOND medley is incredible, as are the arrangements of STAR WARS and ROCKY.
The brass band used to be a common form of entertainment in the early part of the 20th century. Nearly every town in America had some kind of a brass band. Now, it seems to be a dying art. If you love the sound of a great brass band, or if you are a fan of movie themes from great composers like Elmer Bernstein, John Williams and Bill Conti, this is a must-have CD for your collection."