Philip Jones Brass Ensemble Greatest Hits

The remastering is first rate and you can't beat the 2-fer pricing. Get this set while its available because the wait for more will at best be a long one. Thankfully, I still have most of the PJBE recordings on vinyl and a good turntable for playing them. But I would still be near the head of the line to snatch up any subsequent reissues. Years ago I saw several of their recordings on cd, but foolishly passed on them, thinking they would be in circulation for awhile. Silly me. Like I said, grab this before they post the infamous notice "no longer available."

When the PJBE made it's first American tour back in the 70s I was already a huge fan. I went to hear them play, never expecting the concert to sound as good as the recordings. They opened with the Tylman Susato Renaissance Suite and their playing immediately blew away any Memorex memories of their recordings. Unfortunately, we will never again hear live such virtuosity and musicianship. The recordings DO serve as a fine memory of the first and foremost brass ensemble.


Nothing better than this!   July 10, 2006
H. Thomas (Schweiz)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

There are many brass recordings available today with ensembles which are even technically more advanced, but nothing can compare with Philip Jones, because the PJBE is not only pure precision playing, it's musicality too and it's smart arranging. Jones understands how to use the characteristics of each instrument. He lets room for Tuba or Horn too, its not just Trumpet always playing the big parts like Empire Brass does.


The Greatest brass ensemble...   January 19, 2007
H. Mjeltevik (Norway)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Philip Jones brass ensemble shows you musicality on a high level. The feelings they are playing with are suberb...music is feelings, not technical.

Buy it...


Great start! Now where is the rest?   May 31, 2001
Michael Malloy (Columbus, OH USA)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

I have always been a huge fan of the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble. They set a very high standard of playing and the recordings, most of which are not available on CD, are excellent.

Where are their landmark recordings of such works as the Hindemith works for brass ensembles: Concert Music for Strings and Brass, Morgenmusik for Brass, Concert Music for Piano, Brass and Harps which they played flawlessly?

Where is their outstanding recording of the Gunther Schuller Symphony for Brass?

Please, Decca, give us more of the full course, not merely the teasers and encores.

Partial LP discography:

Baroque Brass: 1979 Baroque Venice: 1972 La Battaglia (Battles for brass): 1981 Carnaval des Animals: 1984 Classics for Brass: 1972/73 Gabrielis in Venice: 1983 Golden Brass: 1974 Just Brass: 1970 Konzertmusik (Hindemith): 1981 Modern Brass: 1979 Renaissance Brass: 1976 Arrival of the Queen of Sheba: 1983 Strings and Nrass (Gabrieli, Vejvanovsky, Vivaldi): 1970 Voices and Brass: 1969 The World of Brass: 1976