The Central Band ended 2012 as it started the year – on a Wednesday night in the band room at the British Legion Club in Norbury. However, Wednesday 19th December was as unlike the 4th of January as you could possibly imagine…
No longer just a hardcore few grunting a hello and pining for the holidays. Rather a full band, smiling and laughing with festive joy, heads festooned with antlers and Santa hats.
No longer a jaded and unfit trumpet section. Rather a well oiled machine with chops of steel, sounding a heraldic voice over the melodies of the woodwind and lower brass.
No longer an empty hall. Rather tables full of Legion members, friends of the band and, of course, David Cole’s fan club (complete with new members for 2012) providing the smallest but rowdiest audience of the year.
The programme was all about the festive season. The march ‘Christmas Joy’ started proceedings and then, like Christmas Day, the evening was full of surprise presents for the audience…
Firstly there was the opportunity for plenty of participation. This is a regular feature of Central Band concerts, but never quite on this scale! Carols in four part harmony reverberated round the hall and there were lively sing-a-longs to Christmas classics such as ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Let it Snow’.
Band friend Dale Bassett channelled his inner Bublé to perform a hastily rehearsed but brilliantly executed ‘Jingle Bells’ supported by the band and female close-harmony singing sensations Catherine, Alex and Charlie (surely to become a more regular feature of Central Band concerts?)
The Captain even had a special gift for one of his fan club – ‘Cantina Band’ from his epic ‘Star Wars’ arrangement. After a toe-tapping few minutes the lucky fan was heard to declare it was “just what I always wanted!”
After all this there was time for a final carol to draw the concert to a close. As Santa put down his tuba to hand out Christmas treats the Central Band delighted their public with a second encore.
Not being satisfied with ‘We wish you a merry Christmas’, Leroy Anderson’s ‘Christmas Festival’ brought a cheer, a standing ovation and reminded everyone that … IT’S CHRISTMAS!
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