Ottawa's Polished Brass Quintet was founded in 1995 by a very fine gentleman named Bob Antosik. Bob's three-decade working career was in the RCMP, then CMHC. He played the tuba as a hobby for many years; then, after "retirement", he pulled together a group of brass-playing friends, including the late Sid Holmes, a trumpet legend in Ottawa, scrounged some quintet music, and the Polished Brass was born. Over the years, individual members have come and gone, but Bob remained throughout, encouraging new players, keeping the rehearsals going and the music flowing. Bob's dedication was proven beyond a doubt when, the day after a long afternoon concert at the Mackenzie-King estate, it was determined that he had done the whole event with a broken hip!
Bob Antosik died on 20 September 2009 at the age of 76. He had played a concert with the band just four days earlier. As the tuba player, he was necessarily the musical "anchor" of the Polished Brass Quintet, but that title fit in many other ways as well. The other members miss him.
With a library of over 500 numbers, they can tailor a programme for just about any event or musical taste. Indeed, they've played in parades and flotillas, for receptions and weddings, Church services and cultural events. They have played on Parliament Hill for a couple of thousand people, but they also entertained in hospitals for a couple of dozen.
Listen to 'Ain't Misbehavin'
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