"a little more compact" "takes a look back at our past, rather than going too much bigger"
The only part of the American wind band market and wind band sound concept which has been standardized in any way is the service band market. And from the hints that he drops it sure seems that market is what Besson is aiming to capture. That might be a good thing, to me anyway, if Besson can open up the euphonium sound in those bands, while keeping the military band people from feeling they have strayed too far from the tight, closed Willson sound.
Another effect of Childs' UNT gig is that he's doing undercover work for Besson.