A ‘Perfect Landing’ — The Canadian Brass LIVE!
A review by Spotlight Central. Photos by Love Imagery
On Friday, December 11, 2015, “the world’s most famous brass group,” the Canadian Brass, brought their “Perfect Landing” tour to a sold-out house at the Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts, on the campus of Ocean County College, in Toms River, NJ. This group of five classically-trained brass virtuosos presented a concert full of twists and leaps featuring familiar works in a new light. The audience knew they were in for an unconventional evening when CB opened the show with their signature closing (!) piece, “A Closer Walk to Thee,” played while walking through the audience and onto the stage dressed in formal wear… with white sneakers.
And the rest of the evening also turned out to be one filled with surprises.
First of all, not all of the Canadian Brass players are from Canada. They are, however, all top-notch musicians with unique side talents. Founding member Charles Daellenbach leads the group, but also plays the tuba with unique grace and style. Trumpeter Chris Coletti, from New York, writes musical arrangements for the group that include his proficient whistling and impressive tenor voice complete with an operatic “high C.” Trumpeter Caleb Hudson, who also performs on piccolo trumpet, happens to be a talented photographer. Add to the mix French hornist Bernhard Scully with his comedy and percussion talents and Greek trombonist Achilles Liarmakopoulos, who adds a touch of color and movement to his performances, and you have a world-class group that all brass players can aspire to be, breathing life and soul into their instruments and truly making them sing.
The musicianship of these talented men was not only highlighted by the playing of their 14-carat gold-plated horns, but the gleam in their eyes as they made their music incredibly personal and interactive. Humor was infused into their performances, whether they were coaxing the audience to sing along with timeless arrangements of Glenn Miller classics like “In the Mood” or sailing through such traditional Christmas-time pieces as “I Saw Three Ships” complete with whistling… and triangle accompaniment.
At one point, even the audience became a part of the show when the players created quadraphonic sound by placing themselves in various corners of the theater to imitate the cathedral sound of Renaissance music. Bringing such ancient music into the 21st century required some modern help, however, as the CB members gave their iPads displaying their written “sheet music” to human music holders (and they also had to remind the brave audience members not to accidently touch the on/off buttons!). It was a delight to hear these powerful brass instruments played so delicately just inches from one’s ears. Audience members could hear and feel every breath the performers took as they expertly caressed a soft pure tone from their golden horns and blended it into one melodious strain. A unique experience to say the least.
Another highlight of the evening was CBs tribute to the National Ballet of Canada. Ballet pit orchestras are typically seated under the stage so they don’t get to see the dancing going on above them, but they do get to hear it from a unique position. CB did a medley of ballet themes complete with choreography of what they thought the ballet dancing looked like based on what they heard in — or should I say “on” — their heads. This number showed not only their musical talents, but their sense of humor and amazing physical talent as they literally danced, pranced, and rolled across the stage with their instruments in their hands AND on their lips. Whether they were twirling and kicking to “Can-Can,” gyrating to “Waltz of the Flowers,” or playing duets on each other’s instruments while taking cell phone “selfies,” their playing was flawless, making their shenanigans look easy… and completely captivating the audience.
Along with being outstanding performers, the members of the Canadian Brass are also talented educators. To this end, they held a special day of workshops at the Grunin Center where they conducted master classes and provided critiques to local musicians associated with Ocean County College, the fine arts center’s home base. Likewise, as a special surprise for the audience, CB invited a local boys choir, The New Jersey Youth Chorus’ Coro Vivo under the direction of Matthew LaPine, to join them on-stage for a delightful set of Christmas tunes, after which they intruiged the boys by making their instruments growl and wail and slide and glide with percussive intensity.
All in all, the Canadian Brass simply delighted the sold-out crowd at The Grunin Center with a wonderful holiday-inspired performance and, afterwards, they even took the time to meet and greet audience members and autograph copies of their brand-new CD, “Perfect Landing” — already climbing the Billboard charts (and, which, according to CB, for the month of December, also includes a free bonus track download with each purchase). For more information on all five Canadian Brass members, “Perfect Landing” and their other music CDs; concert tour dates, and more, be sure to check out canadianbrass.com.
Likewise, for more information on The Jay and Linda Grunin Center — where upcoming concerts include the sold-out accapella vocal group, Home Free, on Feb. 20 and New Orleans vocalist, Aaron Neville, on Mar. 18 — please go to grunincenter.org.
