Las Vegas (British) Brass Band Concert

The Las Vegas Brass Band in action

With all my complaining about no marching bands at Henderson’s St. Patrick’s Day parade last Saturday, David and I attended the Las Vegas Brass Band Concert on Sunday at the Clark County Library Theater, and we got our share of brass! It was free to the public and over-the-top excellent! Talk about getting your blood flowing and your spirits rising, the music is rapturous. It delights your soul.

Pete Cooper - Photo Credit: LVBB website

The conductor, Dr. Richard McGee, is an entertaining frontman, often providing tidbits about the band’s history and showcasing many of its members. This time he talked a bit about the brass band’s founder, London-born Pete Cooper, and about the history of British brass bands.

Pete Cooper, a member of the Band of the irish Guards at Buckingham Palace photo Credit:LVBB website

Pete Cooper founded the Las Vegas Brass Band in 1993, which is, according to the band’s website, “one of the longest-running community ensembles in Las Vegas”. Evidently, in the history of brass bands, and despite the band being 33 years old, it means this brass band is a ‘newbie’.

Pete plays the trumpet and cornet, and has a background in both classical and jazz music. While in England, he played with many bands, including the Band of the Irish Guards at Buckingham Palace. In what the website refers to as a ‘shrinking live musician market’, many local musicians have turned to other careers, as Pete did, but they missed the opportunity to play their instruments and share their music. “Members of the band are talented professional and amateur musicians from all walks of life and a wide age range. Some of the current members were not yet born when Pete Cooper first pulled the band together!”

Why a British Brass Band? It’s part of Pete’s heritage. British Brass Bands date back to the mid-19th century when they were formed as part of a community and encouraged by local industry, especially collieries (coal mines) and mills, to promote worker camaraderie. It’s not so different from modern-day company-supported softball or basketball teams. Over time, the bands grew and excelled, and competitions began among them. Today, the competition is fierce on the local, regional and national levels.

There is a North American Band Association, and the US Open Brass Band Championships are held annually. After a little research, I learned several national festivals occur throughout the year as well. Who knew?

Here in the Southwest, British brass bands are still not all that common. That’s where Pete stepped in, and hence, we have a well-regarded British Brass Band alive, well and thriving in Las Vegas for all to enjoy.

Sunday afternoon’s program was entitled ‘Irish Passport’, but it was really more of a tribute to the music of the British Isles… a bit of Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. We heard traditional Irish tunes like the Irish Washerwoman, Donegal Bay, and Rhosymedre and traditional marches like The British Grenadiers and national songs like Scotland the Brave. Selections from John Williams’ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone score, a Beatles’ medley and even a Tom Jones hit added fun and nostalgia to the program. You can feel the musicians’ energy. You can see their toes tapping while they play, and the look of joy on their faces as they take a breath and join in the reverie they create.

Honestly, I was not familiar with several of the instruments in the band until David pointed them out. I mean, I know a trumpet, trombone, saxophone and tuba, but having played French horn as a teen, he pointed out the cornets and the baritone, but even he was a bit stumped by the euphonium and the flugelhorn. Always more to learn and appreciate.

The Las Vegas Brass Band will be playing again over the coming months, and we’ll be there. With all the chaos currently in this world, here’s a chance to lighten your load and thoroughly just enjoy being entertained, and I’m all for that! Listen to them here!