Take a trip to Coney Island

By Rob Edwards
Staff Writer

While the Great American Brass Band Festival rages on, this year's gala will be marked by the release of a new recording from The New Columbian Brass Band. ``A Trip to Coney Island'' is the band's second album and its first with Dorian Records.

This new compact disc will make its debut appearance at the festival. Anyone interested in brass band music or Americana (American music from the mid-19th to 20th century) will be attracted to the music as well as the story each song tells.

Most impressively, this endeavor marks the first time Dorian Records has recorded big band music. ``Dorian is a highly respected international record company. It is noteworthy that Columbian Brass is coming out on such a respectable label,'' commented George Foreman.

``A Trip to Coney Island'' will be available at the brass band festival for $14.95 (CDs only) in a booth near Festival Market. All profits made off festival sales will be donated to the festival.

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 three star soloists.

DiMartino, a former president of the International Trumpet Guild, solos on the cornet. Lydia DiMartino, Vince's wife, is an accomplished flutist and performs technically difficult solos on the piccolo. Earle Louder completes the soloists' trio for the New Columbian Brass Band. Considered one of the greatest living euphonium soloists, Louder is also a frequent soloist with the New Sousa Band and the Detroit Concert Band.

``A Trip to Coney Island'' features six songs ``which have been overlooked,'' claims Foreman. The recording includes an ``unusual repertoire with descriptive overtures and printed synopses.'' He also notes that it is particularly interesting if you read the synopses that accompany the CD and follow along with the music. For example, ``Evening Call'' relates the story of a young man visiting his girlfriend. When the town clock strikes three, her father wakes up, catches the young lovers kissing and then chases out the suitor with thunderous roar.

The New Columbian Brass Band has performed in Lexington and Somerset over the last three months. Each time its performances have been applauded and met with praise.

The band's first recording was titled ``Music From America's Golden Age.'' This CD included a variety of marches, solos and overtures and included the ``Death of Custer.''

The band is hoping to complete a new recording this fall to follow up on the release of ``A Trip to Coney Island.''