Fearless charity

Sandy St. James Present New York’s Bravest – Past, Present, Future’
Various artists, produced by Sandy St. James, New Jersey

The piping world responded to the September 11 attack on the United States, with various tributes, concerts and memorial compositions dedicated to the victims and their survivors. The latest project is New York’s Bravest, a compact disc from executive producer Sandy St. James of New Jersey

New York’s Bravest features the musical talents of Bruce Gandy of Nova Scotia, New York’s Oran Mor Pipe Band, trumpeter Bob Saachi, and the piping instructor of the Fire Department of New York Pipe Band.

Proceeds from the sale of the disc will benefit the Widow & Children Fund of the FDNY / NYPD / PAPD, NYC AFL-CIO World Trade Center Workers, and Pentagon Personnel.

While the CD is strictly a charitable project, of the 11 tracks on the CD, the two from Gandy stand apart. His composition, “New York’s Bravest” (available on Piper & Drummer Online‘s TunePost), is the opening selection, and certainly the centrepiece of the project. Gandy’s other contribution is one of his typically poignant airs played on Shuttle pipes.

The other selections are from the Grade 2 Oran Mor band, featuring conservative repertoire such as “Lochanside,” “Scotland the Brave,” and “Kilworth Hills.” Two separate renditions of “Amazing Grace” and “Taps” on trumpet/bugle provide ample material to please those who simply want to contribute to a good cause.

The funereal liner notes list emergency workers and those on the four doomed flights killed on the day. “God Bless America” and several United States flags adorn the CD and notes.

The CD, which comes in a customized red and silver box, is priced at US$10 plus $2.50 shipping and handling (orders of five or more CDs receive free shipping), and is available from Sandy St. James, 184 Depew St., Dumont, NJ 07628 USA.

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