Think "trombone" and you think "Team Trombone." Think "beer" and you think "Ahhh..." But think "Concert of My Dreams" and you must surely imagine the impossible - a meeting between international soloist and principal trombone with the Black Dyke Band, Brett Baker, and those legends in their own opinions, Team Trombone.

The date was 20th September 2003. The venue, St Peter's Church in Thundersley, Essex. The most amazing meeting of slide-shifters took place in the early afternoon, when Team Trombone and the young Mr Baker met up for their rehearsal together. The quartet bonded immediately, and realised that little rehearsal was necessary. Indeed, Brett kindly remarked that he didn't think we would improve however long we rehearsed for!

The Castle Point Brass Band soon arrived, and Brett kindly gave us all a masterclass. He spoke very eloquently about performance, and demonstrated a number of points himself, as well as using a couple of willing "volunteers" from the band.

Brett managed to keep the whole band interested for over an hour - something that deserves note in itself - and was happy to give some individual help to members who asked. Here he can be seen talking to Ken Wright, who plays 3rd cornet with the band.

After the masterclass, it was rehearsal time, and the band were treated to a sneak preview of Brett's amazing solos.

Soon it was 7.30, and time for the concert...

The band came on stage and launched into a rousing rendition of Westward Ho. The acoustics of the church were excellent, and allowed the band to shine. A moving performance of Gabriel's Oboe followed, and then it was solo time.

On a night when we were to be entertained by an international soloist, Mike Glenister bravely took to the stage to play an arrangement of the Elton John classic, Your Song. Along with twin brother Rob, Mike was celebrating his 19th birthday. Mike rose to the occasion and fully deserved the generous applause of the audience.

Who Pays the Ferryman was next, and then band and audience prepared for the entrance of our guest. Suffice to say, nobody was disappointed...

Brett started with Ye Banks and Braes, a beautiful melody arranged specially for him by Keith Wilkinson. The audience were entranced by the beautiful sound they were hearing, and the trombone section of the band were amazed that the piece could be made to sound so easy! Then a real treat - Brett played Rodney Newton's Dick Turpin's Ride to York. Written for Brett, this piece really shows off his technique, and is a real crowd pleaser. Many were shocked to see a trombonist playing such a technical piece with such class and clarity.

How could the band follow that??? We decided to play Music for Greenwich and then escaped for a cup of tea...

The second half started with the coming together of four slide-shifting legends, as Team Trombone welcomed Brett to their ranks (as a trainee member, naturally...) for two quartets.

Brett was a little nervous, but we made him feel welcome by giving him a Team Trombone T shirt and cap... The Team started with a lively arrangement of The Liberty Bell March, during which TT2 proved his worth by turning a page half way through, with only the slightest gap in his playing. The rest of the Team were impressed - they had simply opened up their music properly at the beginning, not thinking how impressive this trick would be... The second piece was Bluesleeves, a beautiful arrangement of the traditional tune, Greensleeves, but in a jazz/blues style which really showed off the tonal qualities of the trombone.

So now it was time for more solo work from Mr Baker.

Still in his newly acquired Team Trombone uniform (he didn't want to ever take it off...), Brett charmed the audience with Misty. I guess one sign of a great player is that he can make a simple tune sound beautiful - and Brett certainly didn't let us down. Brett's second piece was the well known cornet solo, Hailstorm. Yes, I said the cornet solo Hailstorm!!! His tonguing and slide-shifting was nothing sort of magnificent - the audience were left breathless just listening! It was a great finale to his part of the concert - OR WAS IT??? Brett returned to play Happy Birthday for band membersRob and Mike Glenister, and the audience played their part with some enthusiastic singing.

Next from the band was The Elvira Madigan Theme, followed by Gordon Langford's arrangement of When the Saints Go Marching In and then Don't Cry For Me Argentina. The programme ended with a rip-roaring rendition of Stephen Bulla's folk song fantasy, Blow Away the Morning Dew, but we couldn't realistically end it there! Brett Baker came back on to stage and joined up with Team Trombone and the Castle Point Brass Band once again for the ever popular Frolic for Trombones.

All left the stage to great applause, happy that they'd had a wonderful day and provided a good evening's entertainment.