TEAM SPIRIT Invicta Concert Band plays the music of Brian Reynolds
Conductor – Jim Harrison

25 tracks incl. Team Spirit; Mediterranean Honeymoon; Sweetcorn; Black and White Tango; Carnival in Caracas; Elizabethan Tapestry; Clarinade; Seven Senoritas; Southern Serenade; Tarantella; Swing into Summer … CD1 [77:58]

This the first ever release by the Herne Bay based band, devoted to the music of our talented friend Brian Reynolds, would be hard to beat for sheer tunefulness.
It was only recorded in the Kent seaside town this February (2014), and the informative liner notes tell us that another well-known “man about light music”, Tony Clayden, was also involved as recording producer and project co-ordinator.

The band, founded in 1983, has the same formation as a military band with both local amateurs and some seasoned professionals, a lot of whom have backgrounds in either military services or the teaching profession, among its 33 players. Their playing here is spirited and I find it hard to imagine anyone for whom music means melody not enjoying this album.

Before entering the music education arena, conductor Jim Harrison had a long career as a flautist with the Grenadier Guards band, nine years as principal. Most of the arrangements are by Terry Kenny, although the names of Cyril Watters, Ernie Mortlock, Allen Roche, and John Lewis also appear.

Brian himself conducts Latin Lace and gives us a particularly enjoyable keyboard interlude of six pieces [I loved Annabelle] played on his incredibly versatile Clavinova.

This is definitely a ***** issue – well done to all involved.

The CD is available for £12.50 (including p&p) direct from the band at contact@invictaband.co.uk or at any bandstand where they are appearing.

Peter Burt

Listen to Brian Reynolds talking about the making of the CD