Black Dyke trombone star Brett Baker will be flying to the USA later this month to link up with conductor Keith Wilkinson and Brass Band of the Western Reserve.

Ninth visit

Brett will be performing in a special 20th anniversary celebration concert with the band on March 24th at the Medina Performing Arts Centre. It also marks Brett's ninth visit to perform with the band which is led by the former William Davis and GUS conductor.

Brett and Keith first became friends when he performed as a guest of the William Davis Band on a tour of Switzerland in 1995, during which Keith started on his celebrated arrangement of Arthur Pryor's 'Annie Laurie' which included a final variation heard previously only on Pryor's recording of the solo.

Parisian premiere

It led to a series of further arrangements which now grace the portfolio of just every top trombone player in the banding world, with the latest, Pryor's 'Parisian Melodies' to be premiered by Brett on this latest visit.

One other title that Brett is due to perform is especially nostalgic for Keith. In 1982 Bill Geldard made a wonderful arrangement of Gershwin's 'I Loves You Porgy' for Don Lusher to play on a GUS Band recording. Keith is now looking forward to conducting it again.

Brett's visit will be something of a whirlwind visit, but he will have time to include a masterclass the day he arrives before an evening open rehearsal with the band.