CORNET SOLOIST

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27369, 7 June 1954, Page 7

CORNET SOLOIST

CONCERT AT CIVIC THEATRE

Ken Smith, the brilliant New Zealand cornet soloist, played at the Civic Theatre on''Saturday night. Mr Smith was supported by the Canterbury AllStar Band, a combination of selected players from Canterbury bands. Mr Frank John, conductor of the Woolston Band, was musical director, with Professor Vernon Griffiths as guest conductor. Mr Smith has recentlyreturned from England, where he was a cornet soloist for four years with the Fairey Aviation Work’s Band. There is no disputing Mr Smiths brilliance as a cornet soloist. His technique is superb, and his pianissimo playing a sheer joy. In the middle and lower registers there was a lack of tonal warmth and quality. This was off-set, however, by neat phrasing. In the upper register his control was superb. With maturity, Mr Smith should develop a more soulful production in his middle and lower notes. However, it was a thrill to hear such fine cornet control in the upper register. Although, one could not class Mr. Smith with a Paris Chambers and

a Levy, giants of the past, he is a fine player. The band played well, Dr. Griffiths treated the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto excepts admirably, even if the band fell from grace in the accompaniment.

A rondo played by Mr Smith and a duet with Mr, Carruthers were the highlights of an interesting if not a well-balanced programme. In the duet Mr Carruthers produced a trombone tone that was a sheer delight. Assisting artists included Brian Barrett, percussionist and organist. In his organ work, Mr Barrett was inclined to neglect orthodox registrations, and lack a balance between the manuals and the pedals. His percussion was sound, although he has developed a distracting tendency to vary the tympani tuning unnecessarily. Mrs McNair played the piano accompaniments with grace. Mr John controlled the mixed band admirably. An enthusiastic audience filled the theatre. T.J.K.-B.