More groups than ever to perform at '97 festival

By Herb Brock
Staff Writer

As if there weren't enough already to do at the Great American Brass Band Festival, now organizers have come up with yet another event.

And here's a hint: You don't toot it, strum it or pound it. Instead, you put cream cheese, honey or preserves on it.

Got it? That's right. People attending the 1997 festival on June 14 and 15 will get bagels along with the bugles.

``We thought it would be a nice way to start off the festival by having a `Bagel and Brass Breakfast' at Constitution Square (State Historic Site) that Saturday morning,'' said George Foreman, co-founder and director of the festival and conductor of the host Advocate Brass Band. ``People can enjoy a leisurely breakfast while listening to some music.''

The breakfast, which will be held from 7-9 a.m., will be the start of what Foreman and fellow festival officials believe will be the biggest and best festival ever since it began in 1990. And the morning musical repast won't be the only new ruffle or flourish. Here are three others:

* Rag Tent.

No, it won't be made of rags but it will be filled with them -ragtime pieces, that is. On the afternoon of June 14 festival goers will be able to go to a tent next to the Norton Center for the Arts at Centre College and enjoy ragtime music performed by some of the leading players of that style of music, said Foreman, who is managing director of the center.

The theme for the tent will be set at this year's Friday conference - ``The Conference on American Band History: The Ragtime Era,'' which will be held June 13 in the Weisiger Theatre at Norton.

``We will have several renowned ragtime historians and musicians at the conference -more experts on a conference subject than we've ever had,'' said Foreman.

* J.M. Norton All Stars.

Not a baseball team but some of the players do also use resin.

Named after the late Jane Morton Norton, for whom the arts center is named, a group of 11 players will recreate a small, turn-of-the-century orchestra complete with violin, viola and cello players. The group will include local musicians and guest stars.

They will perform in the Rag Tent on June 14.

* Happy silver anniversary, Vince!

Vince DiMartino, co-founder of the festival, a member of the Advocate Brass Band and a Centre College music professor, has delighted festival goers over the years with his trumpet playing. During this summer's festival, he will get a chance to be in the audience for a special performance by several of his former music students. They will serenade their former teacher on his 25th anniversary as a music instructor - but look for him to get into the act.

While there are going to be plenty of new and expanded events, there also will be the traditional crowd pleasers - the hot air balloon race on June 13, the parade and the picnic on June 14 and the community church service on June 15.

There will be a total of 22 groups and individuals performing at the festival, a record number.

Among the performers is Ameriikan Poijat-Boys of America from Northfield, Minn. The seven-piece group is an American version of brass groups that have been popular in Finland for years. It will be making its first appearance at the Danville festival.

Another performer is the Brass Band of Columbus, Ohio, which has appeared here twice before and is regarded as among the best American bands that perform British-style brass music. It is this year's North American Brass Band Association selection, an honor local festival officials give to a band after listening to numerous tapes submitted by the association.

A ``hip New Orleans-style band,'' the Dixie Power Trio from Spotsylvania, Va., also will be playing. The trio actually is a quartet and its members play a variety of instruments, including cornet, banjo and harmonica.

Also coming is Symphonia, a group that draws premier tuba and euphonium players from around the country.

Perhaps the most unique - and coordinated - group that will be at the festival is the St. John's Bicycle Band from Detroit. They ride and play at the same time.

Here are the other groups and individuals that will be at the 1997 festival: Advocate Brass Band of Danville; Bluegrass Brass of Louisville; Conversation of Nashville, Tenn.; Dodworth's Saxhorn Band of Detroit; Scott Kirby of New Orleans; Main Street Brass of Cynthiana.

Also, Naperville Municipal Band of Naperville, Ill.; National Capital City Salvation Army Band; Old Towne Brass of Huntsville, Ala.; Olympia Brass Band of New Orleans; River City Brass Band of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Saxton's Cornet Band of Harrodsburg; 202nd Army Band of Frankfort; Richard Zimmerman of Los Angeles and the Wheelmen of Findlay, Ohio.

The groups and individuals will perform at several venues, including the Danville-Boyle County Airport, the main stage at Centre, Centre Shoppes, Weisiger Park, Constitution Square and street corners everywhere.

``We're really excited about this year's festival. More than ever before, it should have something for everyone,'' said Foreman.