Hi phil, thanks for the comment. I do agree with you- I sort of put this mix tougher in too short a length of time with no reference. I'll have to start using refs!
 
Lynn, I'll probably go ahead and revisit this mix so that the overall balance is a bit better, more 'stage-like'; I think that'd help. Thanks! What instrument(s) did you play? Brass bands have always been a cool thing to me and I'm hoping to become something of an all-around brass player. Just gotta find a double horn :)

I played coronet for five years before I took up guitar.

davdud101
Thanks for listening, John! I actually record all of my brass (except french horn). I prefer augmenting samples/synths with live instruments because I think of myself as more of a mix engineer rather than a composer/arranger; I like to hear finished products!

That explains why they sounded good.