Customer Reviews

Beachcomber

5 star:		(3)
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This 1994 recording of Frederick Fennell and the Dallas Wind Symphony is nothing short of outstanding. It combines Broadway and classical pieces with a wide variety of just plain entertaining fare. Beguine for Band highlights the mellow sounds of woodwinds sprinkled with the excitement of brass and percussion. The Chorus Line medley is Broadway all the way. Numerous seldom heard but utterly enjoyable pieces round out the album. It is sure to delight anyone who has played in a high school or college band. But its entertainment value is not limited to those folks. It's a good choice for everyone who wants to add fun to their music listening.

Fennell has produced the most extraordinary recordings with the Tokyo Kosei winds and this cd is no exception. I purchased this cd to get a wider view of his conducting brilliance. Every song is played with perfection (besides a few trumpet blips on A Chorus Line Medley). If you have never heard Carmen Dragon's version of America the Beautiful you must. Having played it several times it is a wonderfully composed piece. The Dallas brass ring triumphant throughout this cd. And the woodwinds are exceptional. This is a great value and you must purchase it if you are a fan of wind ensemble music. The disc is full of energetic pieces typical of Fennell's music selections.

"Beachcomber" and "Pomp and Pipes", also with Fennell conducting, are my most-played Dallas Wind Symphony recordings. Besides having exceptional repertoire, much of which is unduplicated on
other concert band recordings, the Professor Johnson/Reference Recording sound will test the limits
of your playback equipment...the better the equipment, the more you will realize just how good
the DWS playing is. (Warning: find a loud spot and set your volume before you sit down. Try #6)

I love "Beachcomber" for the wide variety of music it offers....some of it extremely beautiful (not something usually associated with bands). As a bonus, this cd has Fennell's own notes on each selection. They show no-less care than his irreplaceable musical leadership...he was nearly 80
when this recording was made, but you'd never suspect it! Fennell died in 2004 at 90, leaving
us the finest discography of American concert band recordings available anywhere. This, I believe, is one of the very best.

An absolute "must have" recording for concert band and audio enthusiasts...what more do you want?