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Step back in time to 1958, when Billy May arranged and composed music for the iconic album, Big Fat Brass. Recorded at Capitol Studios Los Angeles, this album featured Hollywood's top studio musicians, including those who worked with legends like Frank Sinatra, Nelson Riddle, Nat King Cole, and Ella Fitzgerald. The sound of this album has inspired many over the years, including Mike Lovatt, who decided to form a new group called Mike Lovatt's Brass Pack.

 

The goal of this group is to not only recreate the sound of Big Fat Brass but also to bring new arrangements and compositions to this style of brass ensemble. The group is essentially a big band with French horns taking the place of saxophones. In addition to the horns, the group features piano, guitar, bass, drums, tuned percussion, harp, and two tubas.

 

One of the highlights of Mike Lovatt's Brass Pack is their performance of the 'Suite from Carmen,' arranged by the multi-talented composer, arranger, and instrumentalist Colin Skinner. Originally performed by the Royal College of Music Brass Ensemble, this suite is now heard for the first time in a special virtually recorded performance by London's finest musicians.

 

If you're a fan of the classic sound of Big Fat Brass or just love the sound of a brass ensemble, you won't want to miss Mike Lovatt's Brass Pack. With their unique blend of classic and contemporary arrangements, this group is sure to delight audiences of all ages.

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Mike Lovatt's Brass Pack

Mike Lovatt - Music Director 

Colin Skinner - Composer / Arranger / Conductor

 

Matt Ford - Vocalist

 

Trumpets

James Davison

Danny Marsden

James Copus

Chris Storr

Derek Lawton

 

Trombones

Gordon Campbell

Andy Wood

Tom Dunnett

Pete North

 

Horns

Annemarie Federle 

Diana Sheach

Matt Gunner

Kira Doherty 

 

Tubas

Dave Kendall

Sasha Koushk-Jalali 

 

Piano

Graham Harvey

 

Guitar

Tommy Emmerton

 

Harp

Geraldine O’Doherty

 

Percussion

Jez Cornes

Corrina Sylvester

James Bower

 

Double Bass

Lawrence Ungless

 

Drums

Mike Smith

Mike talks to 4BarsRest about the inspiration behind 'Francis Albert — A Capitol Reprise' and about how he aims to bring something new to the sound of Frank Sinatra's golden recording era with his newly-formed Brass Pack.

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Excerpt from 'Carmen'Mike Lovatt's Brass Pack
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Listen to what he said about it here!

James Morrison features Brass Pack! 
James Morrison featured Mike Lovatt's Brass Pack on his BBC Radio 2 show Top Brass on Sunday 23rd January 2022.

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