Steven Mead always seems to come up with something fresh, and in Virtuoso he has again excelled himself with a captivating selection of pieces, and unbelievably brilliant playing. He is superbly aided and abetted by the excellent Brass Band Buizingen and their conductor, Luc Vertommen, who provided four stimulating new arrangements especially for this recording. The first of these is Gilbert Vinter's wonderfully inventive The Playful Pachyderm, written originally for the bassoon. Then, the much-loved Maori song, Pokarekare Ana, by Paraire H. Tomoana. A veritable aural treat is Concerto for Cello and Wind Orchestra, by Austrian composer, Friedrich Gulda, whose somewhat controversial writing was something of a bridge between jazz and classical. This arrangement uses a guitar for additional colour (as did the original version) and the three stylistically diverse movements come together in a terrific performance. Vertommen's fourth arrangement is of Sarasate's violin showcase, Introduction and Tarantella, which even Steven Mead initially thought was impossible to play! There's more to enjoy: Philip Sparke's super new solo, Harlequin, Ponchielli's Concerto per Flicorno Basso (arr. Henry Howey) and a lovely new recording of the classic Euphonium Concerto by Joseph Horovitz - a performance that Steven dedicates to his mentor, Trevor Groom.

Rating (1-4): Programme - 4, Recording - 4, Performance - 4, Presentation - 4, Overall - 4.

Anthony Leggett - Brass Band World - June 2006