Reviewed by Tony Cummings

The string of musicals written by John Gowans and John Larsson in the '60s and '70s had a huge impact on the Salvation Army and demonstrated that it wasn't just the Joystrings who could make music some distance from the Salvationist brass band traditions. In fact, such was the popularity of the Gowans and Larsson musicals that they not only got tongue-in-cheek accolades of "Christianity's answer to Webber and Rice" that some church historians might have wondered whether the dominance of brass band music in Army circles was beginning to draw to a close. That didn't happen of course though it is a little ironic that Larsson, now a highly regarded General in the Salvation Army, has with ISB band master Dr Stephen Cobb overseen these arrangements and recordings which puts these joyful and melodically inventive compositions back into a "traditional" brass band sound. The playing is, of course, excellent and whether it's a new coat of paint on "Take-over Bid" from their 1968 musical; a selection from the daring-for-the-time Holy Spirit musical Spirit; and other Gowans and Larsson songs the affect is uplifting. It's not all oldies from the musicals here. Apparently Stephen Cobb persuaded Larsson to emerge from a 25-year retirement as a composer to write "Spirit Breeze" (lyrics by Keith Banks). All in all, if you enjoy quality brass work on memorable melodies you'll find this set a listening pleasure.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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