01/07/2009 [Artists]
Hebden Bridge Band was delighted to be joined by internationally renowned percussionist Simone Rebello at their recent Heritage Concert in Hebden Bridge.
The band opened the evening with Kenneth Downie’s Purcell Variations and a varied and entertaining concert was to follow.
Simone first joined the band with a fantastic performance of Goff Richard’s Zimba Zamba on the Marimba and then performed the wonderful vibraphone solo Primavera which was composed for Simone by Simon Kerwin.
The audience watched in awe as the band accompanied Simone playing the complex yet amazingly entertaining arrangement of Summer Storm arranged by Rodney Newton, Rimski-Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumble Bee and Simone also played a magical solo performance of A little prayer by Evelyn Glennie.
The band continued with Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s Dark Side of the Moon and the flugel solo Feather Theme performed by Kelly Hayes. There was also entertained by Andrew Duncan’s arrangement of Cartoon Classics and a wonderful performance (including singing!) of When the Saints Go Marching In, arranged by Stephen Bradnum.
One of the highlights of the evening was the duet Simone played with the bands’ 14 year old percussionist Sam Gardner. Sam accompanied Simone in the xylophone duet The Two Imps by Kenneth J. Alford. For a young musician this was a dream come true and Simone was a true inspiration to the young talented percussionist.
The evening finished with A Manchester Tale by Andrew Duncan, flowed by rousing encore of Mid West March by J.J.Richards.
Band Chairman Ian Plant said: “We had a wonderful evening and everyone in the band greatly enjoyed accompanying Simone, she has such enthusiasm for everything she plays.”
