New Columbian Brass Band
The name of the New Columbian Brass Band was on the lips of festival-goers last year as its second album was released during the festival time. This year, they will take to the stage for a live performance.
George Foreman, festival organizer, is a co-founder and director of The New Columbian Brass Band, which originated in 1994. The band includes 23 professional members from across the country and features American Brass Band music from America's Golden Era. The band's other founder, Vince DiMartino, is one of the star soloists.
DiMartino, a former president of the International Trumpet Guild, solos on the cornet. Earle Louder also solos for the group. Considered one of the greatest living euphonium soloists, Louder is also a frequent soloist with the New Sousa Band and the Detroit Concert Band.
It is completely professional players and involves people from coast to coast. ``What we've done and what we've tried to do is identify really great players who have an interest in this type of music,'' Foreman said.
``The band just gets put together when we have work for it.''
The group's name stems from when the idea for the group originated in 1992. It was the 100th anniversary of the Columbian Exhibition, a world's fair held in Chicago to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus discovering America.
The group played its first concert in 1994 in Los Angeles and again there in 1995.
``We've done quite a bit of playing since then. We've done two tours and the band recorded three CDs,'' Foreman said.
``Thatsum Rag,'' its third recording, will be released later this summer.
Columbia Artists of New York City manages the band.
``They really are the largest artist management group in the country,'' Foreman said. The recording contract is with Dorian Records.
The band's first recording was titled ``Music From America's Golden Age.'' Its second recording was ``A Trip to Coney Island.''
Players include John Jenkins, Paul Castillo, Gerald Zaffuts, Marty Erickson and Steve Charpie. Alison Shaw, the percussionist, teaches at Michigan State.
The bass drum player, Brian Holt of Reading, Penn., is probably the foremost living authority on the old style of bass drumming, said Foreman. Old style drumming is playing the bass drum and the cymbal at the same time.
