At long last - a review of our memorable mini tour in Brittany last Easter weekend   

Followers of this blog will remember that we received an invitation from the Gouesnou Big Band to join them in some Easter concert events in the Brest area. Liz Major from our trumpet section and her trombone playing husband John have known Ron Baker (GBB keyboard) and his family from way back before Ron and his wife Sally settled in Brittany.  Ron suggested to Henri Eynard, GBB MD, the possibility of a joint musical event - the rest is history.

The overwhelming memory is the wonderful hospitality that the French band members and their families showed to all of us during that Easter weekend. Nearly all JD band members were billeted with GBB families and were royally treated. In the case of the writer - Pascal Gaget's eldest son gave up his room to allow me to bed down and his wife Marie cooked twice on easter sunday to entertain her own family at lunch, and then myself with Pascal, and his son and daughter Roman and Mathilde in the evening. Everyone has similiar tales.

This was not just a musical experience, but a French life experience. Our gallic friends had given great thought to the weekend events. Rehearsals and gigs were interspersed with formal meals, pancakes and cider tasting, a meeting with local mayor, a quick tour of the delightful Brittany coast. How did we find the time for music ? - the answer is that a Henri musical working day can be some 18 hours long!

Saturday: A bonne heure the bands met for rehearsals in the Gouesnou arts centre: a get-to-know each other session socially and musically. A snapshot of our rehearsal can be viewed on  The keyboard gurus of both bands had devised and adapted three numbers to be played by the massed bands (C Jam blues, Things ain't... Ja Da) which worked well. The rehearsals continued to late afternoon (ok it was a long lunch with franglais speeches) before packing up and making the short journey to Brest and the Naval Social Centre. JD were due to open their first set at about 10pm. At that moment, Simon's (lead trumpet) considerable frame took a backwards dive onto the floor below, as his chair leg on the highest staging toppled over the edge. Simon's history includes being buried below rugby packs and now served him well as he remounted the stage with aplomb and to the relief of us all. From memory, the gig finished at around 11.15pm when we sat down to a splendid buffet. Would our coach driver run out of tacho hours for the next day- it was close.

Sunday: An morning outdoor gig for a small band formed from the ensembles played in windswept and British-like conditions. Welcome respite followed with a kind reception by Le Maire for all members. To the coast and the delights of cider, pancakes and coastal ambience.

Monday: Back to Gouesnou for morning rehearsal - and an afternoon gig in the local Arts Centre. The local committee made and served continuous pancakes to a responsive audience as the GBB followed by JD did their stuff. The gig finished with an unrehearsed, but very well received, rendition of "We'll meet again". Some recordings were made that evening and we hope to patch some excerpts to the web site soon.The day was wrapped up with another spendid formal meal laid out in the Centre, wine and speeches, presentations and plans for a return match in the future.

Our thanks to Henri, his committee, the Gouesnou Band members and their families for the entire experience. We won't forget it.