Brassability: A Blast of Brass Brilliance That Sticks With You
Alright, let’s talk about Brassability by Drumfanfare Korps Nationale Reserve. If you’re into brass bands with a military edge, this 2004 gem from the Netherlands is gonna hit different. Conducted by Eerste Luitenant Richard Vrijhoef (yeah, try saying that five times fast), it’s one of those albums where every track feels like it was polished to perfection but still has heart—like someone poured their soul into each note.
Now, I gotta be honest: not every song stuck with me. But two tracks? Oh man, they burrowed right into my brain and set up camp. Let’s start with “Riverdance.” Yeah, yeah, everyone knows "Riverdance," right? But hearing it done by a brass band flips the script completely. The trumpets scream energy, and when the flugelhorns chime in, it’s like… whoa. You can’t help but picture yourself stomping your feet in some imaginary Irish pub. It’s wild how something so iconic gets a whole new life here. And then there’s “Castaldo Marsch”—this one just marches straight into your chest. The tubas rumble like distant thunder, and the percussion hits hard enough to make you sit up straight. It’s bold, proud, and kinda makes you wanna grab a flag or salute someone. Honestly, after listening to it on repeat, I felt like joining the army—or at least signing up for a drum lesson.
What really stands out is the sheer talent behind this thing. Guys like Gert Versteeg on bass tuba and Ard Verweij on flugelhorn don’t just play—they own their parts. And don’t even get me started on Richard Vrijhoef’s conducting. He doesn’t just lead; he seems to breathe life into the music itself. Credit also goes to Jan Embregts for keeping things tight as the recording supervisor. These folks didn’t just slap this album together—they crafted it.
But here’s the kicker: while most of the tracks are bangers, there’s an unexpected softness too. Like “Rosana,” which sneaks up on you with its gentle melody. Or “Brnenská Polka,” which feels like a warm hug from someone you haven’t seen in years. It’s these little moments that keep you hooked, even if you didn’t think you were into brass bands before.
So yeah, Brassability isn’t perfect—it leans a bit heavy on tradition at times—but damn if it doesn’t leave a mark. Listening to it feels like stepping into another world, one where tubas reign supreme and marches sound like anthems. Weirdly enough, though, what stayed with me most wasn’t any specific tune—it was the vibe. This album reminds you that music doesn’t need words to tell a story. Sometimes, all it takes is a trumpet blasting loud enough to shake your bones.
Oh, and fun fact: apparently Paul van Bers did “Other” stuff on this album. Whatever that means. Music mystery unlocked? Not quite. But hey, that’s part of the charm.
