Brass

If you enjoy viewing photos from the 2005 Great American Brass Band Festival, then you'll be deliriously happy when you go our new photo gallery. Okay, maybe just delirious, as you're going to have to choose your favorites from among hundreds of photos. You can find the photo gallery by going directly to http://amnews.mycapture.com or by clicking on any of the photos going down the right side of the home page. If your desire to see photos of musicians is still strong, then check out Chief-Photographer Clay Jackson's online photo magazine, Snaps, which is featuring "music" photos during June.

In a crowd of almost 150 runners, you get a little bit of everything. Runners of all ages and abilities were crisscrossing the paths at Millennium Park Saturday morning at the Run for the Brass 5-kilometer race. There were 149 of them in all, from regulars on the local racing circuit to first-timers, from runners checking their wristwatches to mothers (and fathers) pushing baby strollers, from ages 9 to 77. There were college kids setting a fast pace at the front of the field, and a group of women enjoying a brisk walk near the back.

At Millennium Park, Danville Saturday (5 kilometers) Name/Age/Time 1. Patrick Morgan, 19 16:16 2. Daniel Morgan, 21 16:27 3. Nate Blank, 20 16:56 4. Chris Grecc, 38 17:06 5. Anthony Lippert, 21 17:27 6. Sam Morgan, 17 17:36 7. David Littlefield, 36 17:46 8. Tim Brett, 32 17:59 9. Pete Crawford, 25 18:10 10. Gerald Brinson, 45 18:16 11. David Anderson, 41...

Dear Editor, Please let us add our voices to those praising the Great American Brass Band Festival. We moved to Danville from Washington D.C. last year and this was our first festival. We believe that the GABBF ranks with anything on the Mall in Washington. The music here was first rate, and the spirit of the performers and audience made it a pleasure to participate. A few of our highlights were: The parade was just the right mix of quality bands and down-home friendliness.

The Dodworth Saxhorn Band is a recreation of one of America’s first all-brass bands. It creates fun and excitement through 19th-century authenticity. In the 1840s, Adolphe Sax, a Belgian instrument maker working in Paris, developed a family of bell up valved brass horns. Sax’s innovation inspired the production of similar families of instruments in the U.S. Such horns were widely referred to as “saxhorns.” According to the band’s website, “19th-century brass band instruments are generally more difficult to play than modern instruments, especially as regards intonation; however, they produce a uniquely homogeneous sound that is often described as ‘sweet’ and ‘mellow.’ The horns are conical in shape and handmade of softer and thinner metal than most modern horns.

Dear Editor, I would like to congratulate the community of Danville and thank the Great American Brass Band Festival committee for the wonderful brass band festival that just concluded. The citizens of Danville have much to be proud of in successfully hosting this festival. Having served on many committees in my own community, I know how hard the festival committee must work to make the festival fresh and as good as it is every year. Well done, Danville. Brad BurgeValley City, Ohio

It was another big showing of souped-up little red wagons as families gathered to show off their creativity and strut their stuff during the parade that opened Saturday’s festivities at the Great American Brass Band Festival. There were 34 entries in the Great American Wagon Contest that took place at Constitution Square State Historic site. Emily Montgomery, retail coordinator at the Community Arts Center, organized the event and said the entry numbers were again strong for what has become a popular tradition in only its third year.

Dear Editor, As we enter the festive week of brass bands, I would be remiss not to thank those who helped work in downtown over the past 10 days. Kudos to the volunteers and businesses who gave their time in cleaning up the central business district so that we can look our best for the many visitors who will be in town this upcoming weekend. Downtown looks better than it has in years. Julie Wagner Executive Director Heart of Danville Main Street Program

What started as a trip to Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington turned Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center staffers on to an idea they hope will brighten up the new Ortho-Spine Center. "A lot of patient floors (in hospitals) are themed," said Melissa Grubbs, physician liason/project coordinator for McDowell. The new sixth-floor center at McDowell will be no exception, as it's in the process of being transformed with a Great American Brass Band Festival theme. Grubbs said while on a visit to Central Baptist for an unrelated meeting, they noticed how bright and lively a Keeneland-themed floor was for patients.

Oct. 13, 1986 ASHLAND (AP) - The father of a Centre College student killed in a fraternity house fire April 19  in Danville has filed suit against the school and three men who allegedly started the blaze. Michael Durbin, whose son Allan died at the Delta Kappa Epsilon house, filed the suit in Boyd Circuit Court. The undefeated George Rogers Clark High School marching band returned home from the 16-band Somerset Invitational Saturday with trophies for grand champion, first place in Class 4A, best brass, best color guard, best percussion and best woodwinds.

They haven't been running all that long themselves, but it took Shannon and Billy James of Georgetown almost no time at all to get their kids to follow in their footsteps. And that's what brought them to Danville on Saturday morning. The James' four children made their 5-kilometer race debut in the Run for the Brass 5K at Millennium Park, only about three months after their parents ran their first race. And just like that, they have a house full of runners. The kids said they enjoyed the experience, and the parents said it wasn't hard to convince them to try it. “It was a matter of just signing them up and saying, 'We're going,'” Billy James said.

As the forecasted scattered showers passed by Friday night without a drop, festival-goers definitely did not pass up on Bayou & Brass.  It was the second year the event closed off the block of Main Street in front of Weisiger Park, and the gumbo line did not let up until the Cajun delicacy was gone. People were talking about the sweet hurricanes, the specially-created beignets by Twisted Sifter and the new joint effort by Beer Engine and Lore Brewing - Great American Brass Brew.  “I've been coming to the festival for 10 years, but this may be my favorite event,” said Danville resident Sherry Davis.

It's impossible to actually transport Bourbon Street to Danville, but it's easy enough to bring the sounds, flavors and spirit of the Big Easy to town for a Friday night party. That's what the Great American Brass Band Festival is going after for the second year in a row when it stages Bayou and Brass on Main Street from 5:30-10:30 p.m. on Friday, June 7. The event is free. “The people who come downtown to drink a Hurricane on Friday night want high-energy, funky jazz music - they want the feel of New Orleans,” said Jennifer Kirchner, director of the Danville-Boyle County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and festival volunteer.

GABBF SCHEDULE Today Brass Symposium - 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Weisiger Theater, Centre College Concert at Shaker Village - 4:30-6 p.m. at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Mercer County Great American Balloon Race - 5 p.m., gates open; 7 p.m., official liftoff, Stuart Powell Field, Junction City Bayou and Brass - 5:30-10 p.m., intersections of Third and Fourth streets as well as Weisiger Park...

From noon until 11 p.m. Friday, Main Street will be closed between Third Street and Fourth Street in preparation for Bayou and Brass, part of The Great American Brass Band Festival, according to Danville Police Department.

More than a dozen community members turned out for the Great American Brass Band Festival steering committee's public forum Thursday evening at the Boyle County Public Library. GABBF Executive Director Niki Kinkade talked about the importance of volunteerism and community to the festival. Also on hand was Ronald Holz, professor of music literature and instrumental music at Asbury University, who serves as a consultant, particularly on programming, for the GABBF. “It's amazing how the community comes together.

The Black Dyke Youth Quartet, from the United Kingdom, is scheduled to perform at several events during this year's Great American Brass Band Festival, which will be June 6-9 in downtown Danville. The quartet is new to the festival this year. The Black Dyke Band is the world's most famous British style brass band. The band was formed in 1855 by John Foster, a mill owner from Queensbury, Yorkshire, in the United Kingdom. The Black Dyke quartet was started in 2004 by Brett Baker when a previous member of the trombone section decided to retire from full-time playing, but wanted to continue working on projects with the band.

100 years ago - 1912 The authorities of Garrard County are searching for the murderer of Tim Peters, age of about 35, who was killed Saturday night near Kerr's distillery. The lifeless body was found in front of his own home in Buena Vista with his heels tied to the axle of the wagon in which Peters had been riding to Lexington to sell a load of rags and iron. There were two bullet holes in his head.  Authorities started a search for the slayer, and Captain Mullikin took his dogs to the scene and tried to track the murderer.