Band Shines In Polished Retrospective
Christmas in Old Spokane, with Spokane Falls Brass Band, Friday, Dec. 18, at The Met
There was some ragtime and some Mozart. There were hints of bawdiness and some highly reverential words. There were reminiscences of times past along with concerns about the very real present and future.
In short, the Spokane Falls Brass Band left us with a memorable snapshot of everything they have been for the past 18 years. I was at Friday night’s performance, so missed the real farewell show on Saturday night. With this band, who knows what might have been different for the last show?
The concerts trimmed the extra musicians they have used in recent years to focus on the core group. The program was a “best of” retrospective of their popular material over the years. Well, except for one “worst of.”
Singer Ann Fennessy was celebrating with a vengeance the last time she would have to sing “Oh, You Silv’ry Bells.” She repeatedly cited the tune’s distinction of having the most insipid lyric and rhyme scheme imaginable, which in turn makes it noteworthy. Between verses, she was heard to exclaim, “It ain’t Shakespeare, folks.”
The performance also became a tribute to the group’s unique repertoire; the entire program was arranged by members of the group. While a nonstandard brass quintet with a singer seems like an odd configuration for an ensemble, it is remarkable how well some of their arrangements work.
A special post-mortem tip of the hat needs to be given to Andrew Owens. The former trombonist with the group died all too young 10 years ago, but his agile writing for the band lives on. His “Jingle Bells - Galop Characteristic” attributed to S.T. Nicholas, was an absolute romp for the brass, with both historic accuracy and humor.
Humor, planned and impromptu, was abundant. Locally, only the SFBB has been capable of taking a highly technical Baroque aria for soprano and piccolo trumpet, “Vaga Cintia,” and turning it into a comic battle of the high notes. Trumpeter Larry Jess and Fennessy scored evenly in the duel - er duet - until Fennessy spiked the applause-o-meter by shaking her booty.
Sentiment can come off as sappy if it is not genuine, and this is one thing about the Spokane Falls Brass Band that will really be missed. Ann and the boys in the band really connected with the audience in a rare way. Simple songs can really grip if they are delivered with heart and soul, and this is something this group has done well.
Friday’s performance was true to this heartfelt form. “Twas the Night Before Christmas” was an engaging and real telling of the story more than it was a performance, and the concert closer, “Dona Nobis Pacem,” was a sincere message from the band for peace within us and around the world. If it were just a performance, why would a bunch of guys who play horns professionally want to stand up on stage and sing?