Top Brass Quintet

Listeners to the Top Brass Quintet of Louisville may feel like taking a trip. This group, which debuted at the 1999 GABBF, will have a "On the Road" theme at this year's festival. The group will feature works that have the names of cities and states in them.

The songs will take people anywhere from New York to San Francisco, says John Gutermuth, tubist for the group. For instance, they will perform W.C. Handy's "St. Louis Blues." "Harlem Nocturne" is by Earle Hagen, who was the main composer for Danny Thomas' shows. For out West, there is a medley of TV western theme songs, including "Rawhide," "Maverick," "F Troop" and end up with "Bonanza."

They also will perform works by Sousa.

The group has been entertaining in Louisville and southern Indiana for 12 years. They usually perform at weddings, private parties and grand openings.

They have played at most universities and colleges in Louisville and southern Indiana. They do benefits for the American Cancer Society.

They've been part of the annual concert series in Corydon, Ind.

The group's national TV debut came on NBC a few Christmases ago, when NBC   chose a Louisville church for its Christmas service. "We were the first and last things the viewers saw," said Gutermuth.

Other members are: Earl Gaar and Jeff Staten, both on trumpet; Alise Oliver on horn; and John Albrecht on trombone.

Gutermuth, a claim specialist with Farm Bureau Insurance, noted that all the members have outside jobs. Oliver is an executive director with the Kentucky Opera Association.

"We mostly perform for the love of music," he said.