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Stan Ewing (review
taken from the British Bandsman)
Bandmaster Glenn Barlow and the North York Temple Band (NYTB) have
been turning out some interesting and enjoyable recordings in the
last few years. This latest offering is a collaboration with the
talented vocalist Darren Bartlett, the current Songster Leader at
the Boscombe Corps. The CD is titled ‘O Holy Night’, and is
comprised mostly of Christmas songs, along with a couple that don’t
fall into that category.
The problem I find
with Christmas CD’s, is that it’s difficult to come up with a new
and fresh approach to the Carols and Songs that we all know so well.
Bartlett and the NYTB have succeeded here on both fronts, thanks in
no small part to new arrangements from relatively unknown composers,
in the persons of Bandsmen Marcus Venables, Ryan Broughton, and
Andrew Poirier. (Ed. note; Poirier has since moved on to take the
post of principal trombone with Bram Tovey’s Vancouver Symphony.)
Also on the
playlist are works from more familiar composers; Ken Downie (‘A
Great and Mighty Wonder’), Goff Richards (‘Shepherd’s Song’), and
Philip Sparke (‘The Christmas Song’). Bartlett is also featured
accompanying himself on piano backed by bass guitar and drums. He is
the master of his craft, and moves between traditional to stage
musical to pop style with consummate ease. The inclusion of the
North York Singing Company (the Junior Choir led by Sherrilyn Hall
Barlow) on several tracks, adds another dimension to the songs. The
band alone is featured in several solo items, and Brindley Venables
displays a lovely lyrical style in his presentation of the cornet
solo, ‘Ave Maria’.
I particularly
enjoyed Marcus Venables’ transcriptions of David Clydesdale’s
arrangement of ‘O Holy Night’, a real showstopper this one; and
David Hamilton’s ‘Carol of the Bells’ with its engaging Harry
Potteresque like glockenspiel figure. If you’re in the market for a
new Christmas CD this upcoming season, I recommend you put this one
top of the list. The CD comes attractively packaged with a large and
informative booklet.
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Darren
is highly regarded as a top quality vocalist and composer and
arranger of music and has several recordings to his name. He has
featured on BBC TV and is also a familiar voice on BBC Radio. His
musical career has taken him to many overseas venues throughout the
USA, Canada and several European cities as well as numerous UK
appearances on national stages, including the world famous Royal
Albert Hall in London
