A small crowd of about 30-35 attendees who braved the rain enjoyed a musical and goodwill treat Monday night with the free concert by the Airlifter Brass at Chattanooga Theatre Center.
The Airlifter Brass, which featured five brass instrumentalists and a percussionist from the U.S. Air Force Band of Mid-America, thoroughly entertained for roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes.
The group, whose members took turns introducing songs and offering words of good wishes, played a variety of songs. That ranged from such expected military songs as the medley of the various Armed Forces songs and "Stars and Stripes Forever," to a jazzy Dave Brubeck number, to the African-American spiritual, "Deep River," performed on a xylophone.
And they even played a song close to the hearts of many Chattanoogans. No, it was not "Chattanooga Choo Choo," but "Rocky Top," which was received just as heartily by the attendees, some of whom clapped along.
The Air Force musician who introduced that song said he had a good friend who lived in Bristol, Tn., and he told him that since he was coming to Tennessee, he had to play that song.
Another one of the musicians said afterward that not a lot of them can claim a song that is so identified with their states like "Rocky Top" is to Tennessee.
After the concert, all six of the musicians walked out into the seating area and graciously chatted with and greeted the attendees.
jcshearer2@comcast.net