In preparation for their seventy fifth [75th anniversary in the upcoming year of 2005, the Somerset Brigade Band once again packed the St. James Church Hall in Somerset for their annual concert, Saturday evening, 21st February 2004.

Under the distinguished patronage of The Rev. Betty Furbert-Woolridge and Mr. Edward Woolridge of Allen Temple AME Church, the audience was treated to an array of music spanning military, reggae, pop, gospel and classical.

Warrant Officer 1st class Dwight Robinson EM, Bandmaster designate of the Bermuda Regiment Band did a fine job as Compere.

His knowledge of the history of music was an educational journey as he introduced each selection. He most certainly is a worthy replacement for the departing/retiring Major Barrett Dill, EM.

With Major (retd.) Leslie Lowe EM, these three fine men are all graduates of the famed Kneller Hall, the British Army?s Music College.

Ms Chantelle Lowe, a member of St. Paul?s AME Inspirational Choir and daughter of Bandmaster Leslie Lowe, opened the concert by singing a heart rendering rendition of Betty Johns? ?Bermuda National Song ? Hail to Bermuda?. She was accompanied by the Somerset Brigade Band.

The Band then led us on an exciting journey of music as they marched us to the shores of the Danube River, then waltz us through ?The Waves of the Blue Danube?.

An exciting arrangement of the famous Tango, ?La Cumparsita (The Little Masked Parade)?, got the blood flowing. Returning closer to their roots, Bob Marley?s ?Buffalo Soldier? got the crowd stomping their feet and clapping their hands as the Band continued to impress with their versatility.

Keeping with the up-tempo setting, Major Lowe transformed the marching band into a Broadway styled show band as they performed a medley of the Beatles? classics including ?Let It Be?.

Saxophonist Mike Payne, Reggie Tucker on clarinet and concert flute player Dr. Tracey Grant, were outstanding as they each performed their solo?s flawlessly throughout the various selections.

The audience were treated to a musical journey as they experienced the transformation of March Band to Show Band.

As it moved through this medley of songs one could feel the emotion set in place by the smooth transition as the band moved through the many key and time changes.

The impressive rhythm section of trombones, tenor saxophone, euphoniums and percussion kept it altogether as the horn and woodwind sections were allowed to wander in and out of the melody.

As always the appreciable crowd enjoyed the old favourites of, ?Festival of Youth?, ?Pacific Grandeur?, and the ever popular ?Instant Concert?, another quick playing medley of songs, with seamless key changes that urged everyone to get involved as they tried to count the number of selections in ?Instant Concert?.

At the end, the audience threw out several numbers with W/O Robinson accepting the number of twenty nine [29 as being close. An excited lady jumped for joy, thinking she?d won until asked to name each selection. That brought much laughter to an already exciting evening.

The St. Paul AME inspirational choir gave a spiritual uplift as they rendered several well balanced selections including, ?Come Let Us Worship the Lord?, ?Bless Me Indeed? and ?I?ve Got a River of Life Flowing Out of Me?.

These fifteen youthful voices with a vibrant conductor and pianist accompaniment added diversity to the programme.

Unique classical talent was shown when Mr. Kent Hayward, french horn player of Brass Works and Somerset Brigade Band?s trombonist extraordinaire Graham Maule teamed up and performed six short pieces of work of Amadeus Mozart. So precise was their harmonizing, the audience sat in stun silence appreciating the skills of these two young men.

Mr. Hayward gave a running dialogue of their presentation and in explaining his instrument he said ?Isn?t it amazing what sound can come out of twelve to fourteen feet of twisted steel?. A classic performance indeed.

In thanking the audience for their support over the years, Major (retd.) Leslie Lowe EM reminded all that Gala events are being planned for the Band?s 75th Anniversary in 2005.

The successful evening concluded with the playing of ?The Somerset Brigade March?, written, arranged and conducted by the maestro himself.