Glassmen.................72.5 Blue Knights.............71.1 Pioneer..................62.8 Capital Sound............49.8 Kilties Sr...............47.0 Phantom Regiment Cadets..46.6 Govenaires Sr............45.5 Thanks to Ken Martinson for emailing us these scores!
Cadets of Bergen County..80.1 Magic of Orlando.........69.4 Bluecoats................69.1 Crossmen.................68.6 Carolina Crown...........63.4 Kiwanis Kavaliers........59.0 Spirit of Atlanta........58.2 Jersey Surf..............46.6 Thanks to Frank Haddaway for emailing us these scores! Thanks to Mike Simaska for emailing us these scores!
After spending the afternoon watching the Kavaliers and Cadets practice, I was ready for a great night and I was not disappointed. I brought my older daughter (11) along with a friend and his daughter (12). This friend goes with me to one show a summer for the past 5 years, but this was his daughter's first show. The consensus of my guests - Magic was the most enjoyable. Now my comments:
The show started with an exhibition of the Marine drum and bugle corps. Very impressive, especially the drums. A little too "rigid" for my taste. You also realize how much the guard adds to a visual program when you see a corps made up of just drums and bugles.
Jersey Surf - "More Cool Tunes" works well. The drum line was particularly impressive. The corps keeps improving each season. Well done Surf.
Spirit of Atlanta - as others have reported here, "Southern Jazz - Spirit Style" fits the corps well this year. In spite of being reruns, the show was entertaining - certainly one my mother would love - i.e. all *familiar* stuff.
Kavaliers - I was looking forward to seeing this show ever since it was announced this winter. "Evita" is my daughter's favorite musical and she was really excited by this show. *I* was disappointed by the show. I thought KK did a much better job with West Side Story last year. They played the music well and obviously are very talented, but they didn't *tell* the story of Evita - they just played the music. Evita is a very emotional musical story. That emotional impact wasn't there. Hopefully there is more to add. But I'm not sure there is enough here to make top 12.
Crown - It was good to hear Crown Imperial on the field. The guard was particularly notable. They sold the "Postcards from Britain" theme very well, including a clever use of crochet clubs. Good strong horn line.
Magic - Great show. My friends were right. This was the best overall show of the night. Very entertaining. Guard really sold the Mardi Gras theme. Others have described the show better than I could. My impression was that the corps was very balanced across all sections. I think they have the best shot of anyone of cracking the top 6.
Bluecoats - This was another great show. Hard to pick between them and Magic as evidenced by the close scores. Typical Bluecoats jazz sound. Bright brass. Very good guard work. They have a large platform with 7 partial drum sets and a larger prop that the corps hides behind at the beginning of the show.
Cadets - If they gave points for most notes in 11 minutes Cadets would win hands down. The show is impressive. I saw no falls and very few drops. At one point in the show the entire 32 person guard is on rifles. Great guard work. Drums very impressive. Z-pull at the end of the show I thought was very effective.
Crossmen - Going on last as it was their home show. Very nice show. This corps is my emotional favorite. Great arrangements. I think this show has the potential to beat the Bluecoats and Magic, but it is going to take a lot of work.
After the show and scores, the brass from the 3 YEA corps played Cadillac of
the Skies. Then the Cadets played a stand still (We were leaving at the time,
so I'm not sure what they played).
Christopher P. Maher
I always enjoy shows in Delaware, because the drive south from Lancaster County takes me through the fertile fields of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. As I dodged Amish horse-and-buggies, I let my mind wander to the excellent lineup of corps I was about to see.
In order of appearance:
The Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps is an excellent way to spend 30 minutes. Very enjoyable sounds from a top-notch group of musicians. To whoever said they wouldn't score 55 if judged: yeah, right. Uh-huh. Whatever.
The first corps in competition, Jersey Surf, still has the exit to put on their show. According to Tim Bartholomew, brass caption head, they also are going to "take a major chunk out of 'Monstrosity' (the second tune.)" The brass section is a little top heavy, with 13 sops and 3 contras, but hopefully Surf will add some more brass as the season goes. (If you want to march, just post your request and the Surf staff will be contacting you, I'm sure!) Overall, the program has a nice jazz/rock feel to it. The sounds are good from the brass and the percussion section (with some nice licks from the aforementioned sopranos). Kudos to the solo tenor player! The eight-member guard does an admirable job in selling their program to the audience. We saw six-foot neon poles that the guard will manipulate during the drum solo (the work doesn't seem to have been learned yet.) The sound and scores will improve as the corps members become better marchers and familiarize themselves with the drill.
Spirit of Atlanta's new uniforms look smart. Navy w/a red diagonal slash, gold buttons on the diagonal and a gold Spirit "delta" above the waist which shows up beautifully under the lights. Add a red cummerbund? and cream pants and you've got the look. The familiar "Spirit" songs work very well for the corps. The intonation is decent in the brass line, although a certain "thinness" can be detected when the corps is in motion. The music is arranged so that the brass is not overworked, so it almost seems as if there are four ballads in this show. The percussion plays well w/a lot of attitude. Of all the sections, I think the guard needs the most work to give the program a boost.
Kiwanis Kavaliers music sections are all in black, and the opening of their "Evita" matches that with dark sounds, black wind socks and a grey/black/white Argentinian flag front and center. From the mysterious brooding sounds they segue into a fun Latin feel. The guard introduces color w/their flags which are also based on the Argentinian flag. Other flags later state "Viva Peron" (same style flags as the Bluecoats letter flags of 95) I really enjoyed the guard. BASS DRUM FANS! Kavaliers march 8 during parts of their show, and following their feature, the highest gets a measure solo, followed by the next, then the next, etc. until all 8 have had their turn. This brought the crowd to life. The brass is not stellar, but they're accurate. Whoever said that they should march the push of "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina" is dead on. Yes, the girl two seats over started singing it when they played. This corps seemed to have a lot of females in their hornline. Are they the rebirth of an all female corps?
"Thank God, no chess pieces." My first thought on seeing Carolina Crown enter the field. And the corps does literally "enter the field," as the different sections take up the melody of "Crown Imperial." I love this piece and the British sound of the hornline. The backfield statement of the middle section of the piece is well done with some exquisitely staged but as yet inaccurately executed unison flag work to stage right. The second number features a lot of ensemble soli (nice job contras!) and contains delightfully tongue-in-cheek work by the guard, who show up as redcoats (rifles), elegant ladies (parasols), and croquet players (croquet mallets). There's a sabre group too (knights?) I just thought this was a great idea. The ballad (third tune) features the guard dancing as lords and ladies, with the ladies dropping their handkerchiefs en masse. The end tonight was missing large silks which will make their appearance later in the season, I'm sure. Although the work is sloppy now, I think I enjoyed Crown's guard book and the visual design second only to Cadets. Ditto with the hornline. Although there are holes, the music is crisply played and the peal of sopranos playing British march music is not to be denied. Yeah!
"Oh, my." My first words upon seeing the outlandish guard garb of Magic of Orlando. Actually, the unis are all white, it's the hats, trim, and decorative things that adorn the unis. No two are alike. If you are a purist, you will want to go get a Coke during this show, unless you want to stay and be converted. I personally didn't like the crowd participation section. I guess we were focused for about a minute on the drum majors and ourselves, and there are 126 other kids out there. But hey. I enjoyed the guard The colorfulness of their unis and equipment set off the dark corps, and they were very adept and handling said equipment. As regards the hornline, these guys can PLAY. The first real tough hornline of the night (unless you count the Marines). There does seem to be an awful lot of stand and deliver from them. The "Mass" by Robert Smith contains a gorgeous alto solo that unfortunately was a little bit under the pitch tonight. The closer features some more great solos and a major display of "attitude" on behalf of the corps by the DM. What marching I saw was good. I think the rest of the crowd enjoyed them more than I did.
This year, playing the part of the Bluecoats, will be.... the Bluecoats. Very few surprises. "Harlem Nocturne" is arranged in Bluecoats style (bebop? I really can't use that term in a sentence, but it's similar to All The Things You Are from '93.) The drumline is particularly aggressive in the opener, doing some loud, fast features and playing basses w/foot pedals and suspended cymbals on the stage right bridge. The staging of the corps around the two props is decent in the opener, and the guard uses it to get some added height in the ballad. The third number was kind of dark (was it in minor?) and the exit featured an almost classical fugue into the finale. The Bluecoats marching, as always, is sharp and controlled, with nothing too spectacular happening. I do think the guard is finding a really good niche, and the brass is on a par w/ Magic (which is a good thing!)
The Cadets' show this year is kind of like the drum corps equivalent of a fireworks show. The entire crowd goes "Ooh" and "Aah" for about eleven and a half minutes. Although I'd been prepared, I have to say that the length of the opening flourish exceeded my expectations. Now, to make it clean... The color guard grabbed me and held me down to the point where at times I figured the music was a beautiful accompaniment to all of this great guard work. Fortunately, for those still listening, the brass line and the percussion line have fireworks of their own. I'm in awe of the mellophone section. Drums-jeez. Someone forgot to tell the Cadets' auxiliary that the third number was an "Interlude." They just go ahead and keep throwing rifles and sabres, all to a strict, graceful double time, making you catch your breath. The Z-pull at the end was a thing of beauty. Even though you want to listen, you find yourself clapping, and then they pull it out and you're ripped from your seat, screaming... The reaction of most of the crowd throughout the show was dropping jaws and shaking heads, followed by tumultuous applause.
No one should ever have to go on after Cadets. Crossmen, however, occupied that unenviable position Saturday night. This was my second viewing of the corps (I saw the preview show last weekend) and I posted a long review of that show in which I described it in glowing terms. I wish I could have seen the Crossmen bunched in with the Bluecoats and Magic tonight so that I could get an accurate idea of the GE of their show. The strength of the Crossmen this year lies in a color guard that is powerful and clean, musical proficiency in the horns and drums and a program that should generate excitement. Tonight, after Cadets, the Crossmen seemed flat to me. The tempos and dynamics, especially in the opener, must be picked up. The drumline, while clean as a whistle, sounds like Phantom Regiment. There were some phasing problems w/in the music at the beginning of the opener and "Niner-Two." The most exciting part in the show was a nifty silent-drill move (no "duts", mind you) near the very end. The CG also has some very nice tosses at some great impact points. I feel guilty for posting such negative comments when I didn't slam any other corps. But I think they were off tonight.
The retreat was DM only, but the hornlines of the YEA corps (Cadets, Crossmen, and Carolina Crown) mixed together to play "Cadillac of the Skies". Cadets then set up for their "victory concert". Larry Markiewicz of the Cadets brass staff said "We're going to hurt people at this close range." Before playing the final two numbers of their show, the hornline had some fun w/a series of "space chords" with the DM adjusting the dynamics of each section. Each individual section then played a "space theme" which brought laughter as the crowd recognized the music.
What a wonderful lineup of corps! The competition for the "second six" at
finals may be as exciting as the competition for the top spot. Can't believe
I have to wait for two weeks to see another show. Life's rough, isn't it?
Chip Frontz
Crossmen 1992
Div I Blue Devils..............84.7 - Music, GE, Visual Cavaliers................80.9 - Percussion Div II Mandarins................72.6 - All Captions Pacific Crest............70.6 SC Vanguard Cadets.......64.5 Earthquake...............63.3 West Coast Sound.........54.9 Youth Band Spirit of Santa Fe Springs.61.3 The Sound Machine..........52.7 Thanks to James Hensley for emailing us these scores! Thanks to Tim Haan for emailing us these scores!
The show was great! Bd and Cavies had strong shows. An unfortunate baritone or euphonium player got hit in the head with some piece of equipment and had to exit the field about 2 minutes into the show. He was helped by a judge and then by staff members. It turns out he should be ok, and hopefully that won't happen again. Pacific Crest's show looks good and could overthrow Mandarins by the tours end. This was the first show they lost the High Music award. Both BD and Cavies played Victory concerts. It was a great show that ended with Cavies playing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". What a way to end a great show !
James Hensley
Recaps - June 28, 1997, Fullerton, CA
Thanks to James Hensley for emailing us these recaps! GENERAL EFFECT ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE TOT MUS VIS TOT MUS VIS TOT BRS PER VIS TOT Div I Blue Devils 16.3 17.7 34.0 12.4 13.4 25.8 8.6 8.1 8.2 24.9 84.7 Cavaliers 15.6 17.1 32.7 11.8 12.3 24.1 8.3 8.2 7.6 24.1 80.9 Captions: BD: Music, GE, Visual Cavies: Percussion Div II Mandarins 14.9 14.1 29.0 11.1 10.3 21.4 7.8 7.0 7.4 22.2 72.6 Pacific Crest 14.0 14.3 28.3 11.2 10.2 21.4 7.2 6.9 6.8 20.9 70.6 SCV Cadets 12.9 12.7 25.6 10.1 8.3 18.4 7.4 6.5 6.6 20.5 64.5 Earthquake 12.5 12.4 24.9 10.3 8.1 18.4 7.5 6.1 6.4 20.0 63.3 West Coast Snd 10.2 11.8 22.0 7.8 7.7 15.5 6.7 4.8 5.9 17.4 54.9 Captions: Mandarins (All)
Caballeros...............74.0 - High GE, High Percussion, Best Drum Major, Honor Guard Bushwackers..............72.8 - High Horns, High Visual Westshoremen.............71.6 Sunrisers................70.1 Hurricanes...............66.5 Skyliners................61.0 Thanks to Bud McCormick for emailing us these scores!
Note: The following blather is only my opinion and has nothing to do with my writing in Drum Corps World, etc. and so on. Hey, I don't write show reviews anyway. Strap 'em on!
Perfect night for DC at this hallmark stadium. After all the folderol of introductions and the mummers (yes, I emcee this show, and have no idea why they insist on putting on silly exhibition acts such as this), we finally got down to the what the crowd came fer.
In general, I thought the level of competency was over and above what one usually sees in DCA at this time of year. Cabs especially seem in midseason form. The only "top" corps who seemed to need some work was Westshore.
6th place--Skyliners--61.9: Okay, it's been years since they've contended. But a nice, enjoyable, well presented lagniappe of big band faves. Yes, we've all heard "Sing, Sing, Sing" a jillion times. An excellent example of a corps "playing within themselves." Add in a youngish, very exuberant, free-form guard. Drum line still ails, with four snares, one of whom seemed to drop out at certain spots of the show. Pit is tiny, too, and placed on-field. Dash and verve make up for lacking departments. Corps always has some real soprano "wailers," and they get a lot of face time. "Signature" closing is trotted out again, but it still works after all these years. Best closer of the night, according to the crowd.
5th place--Hurricanes--66.5: Like Sky, Hurcs are playing it safe, with more standards such as--ulp--"Caravan" and "Autumn Leaves." But this tack services corps well. Naturally, a big fan fave in their own nape o' the woods. Again like Sky, more quality and better technique than this corps has shown in the past few years. I'd wish they'd returned to the "cop" hats to match the lightning bolt sashes. Huge chorus of booing when I read off the score, but it's to be expected. This show always garners a large, boisterous, non-dc-oriented audience.
4th place --Sunrisers--70.1: I enjoyed no corps more than Sun at this event. Scads of improvement, especially in a neat, controlled horn line, who played with gobs of technique. Good feet, too. Perhaps a tizzy-sounding, well hidden drum line is keeping them back. Great Holsinger book, with pages drawn from Cadets, especially during a well-executed arpeggio. Yes, the male guard members are wearing "skirts," and I had to hear about it from some of the drum corps codgers who make up about 60% of the crowd. That notwithstanding, this is the best color guard I have ever seen in DCA. Some nuances are again cribbed from Cadets' book, but even the hardest-core Birchers in the crowd oohed and aahed over the many moves and equipment throws this aux unit executed. I want to hear -- and see-- them at Birney Crum in September.
3rd place--Westshoremen--71.6: On the down side, this corps isn't nearly as ready as they were at this point last year. Mind you, Westies ripped the roof off this stadium last year in beating Cabs. This year's book is more subtle. Basia's "Copernicus" is, IMHO, a great choice for a corps to play, yet requires much work, and must ride in exactly the right groove, which it isn't--yet. Seal tune follows it, and is also a non-exciter, albeit played well. Fans must wait for "Chuck Corea" to get animated. Many horn holes, and marching hampered by people who have just joined corps. Once again, drum line is absolutely hellacious--pit and battery both. How they didn't win top drums (.4 behind Cabs) is a total mystery to this writer. Yes, they have the book (and one hopes, the horses) to make a late-season run. Corps appeared one slot early due to mysterious Bush tardiness.
2nd place--Bushwackers--72.8: (1.0 penalty, methinks for lateness). As before, I don't know why corps wasn't ready to compete in their assigned slot. IMHO, the best corps on the field this night. Latin jazz program shines, even though audiences may tire of this idiom after Westies' closer, plus Cabs' show. Great job on Weckel's "Ritmo," outdoing Dutch Boy '92 on same tune. Best feets of the night, too. Always tough to win over this hidebound crowd with an understated, controlled show. Perc line may be a tad less serious than their usual heinie-kicking line.
1st place--Caballeros--74.0: As you may have guessed, a crowd favorite. No, they didn't leave behind their big, brassy horn line, with blow-your-face-off capacity. Drummers more expressive and up-front than in recent seasons, even with more than a little battery dirt in opener and first half of feature. Nonetheless, this corps is ready, and plays and marches with their consistently high standard of excellence. One wonders, though, with all this talent, why Cabs don't push the edge a little more. I wasn't surprised once by anything the corps did. Yes, the traditional bullfight stuff and the "brumps" are once again revisited, and yes, they work well. "My Spanish Heart," while a faint tracing of Devils' 1994 walloper, still succeeded. The expected "wheel" was sloppy, but this didn't deter impact. Nicest story of the night was the return of Jimmy Russo to the podium. The fans went wild--even those who were unaware of his recent tragedy. Cabs also took best honor guard and dm, the only two caption awards. Do the math, and they win by a scant .2.
Great partying in parking lot, what with all corps staying over for boffo parade the next day. Much rollicking from the Hurcs, who traditionally have their "rookie night" at this show. My takeaway--figuring in for an always-contending Empire and upstart Brigs, and you've got a five-corps race come Labor Day, and that's not counting Sun, who I think deserve to be in the elite. This is good for the activity--and DCA. For those of you corps diehards who were appalled at the seemingly rude, unknowledgeable crowd, give 'em a break. The Champs is a classic for those people who only go to one show a year. Many of these people would sit on their hands for SCV, trying to figure out what was going on.
Ace Holleran
This time not speaking as a staff writer for Drum Corps World.
Empire Statesmen.........73.6 - Perc, GE Brigadiers...............73.0 - Vis, Brass Kingston Grenadiers......62.6 Buccaneers...............61.6 Crusaders................60.9 Chieftains...............46.8 Thanks to Dief01 on r.a.m.d for these scores!
East Coast Jazz..........76.5 Spartans.................75.6 Phoenix..................67.9 Knight Storm.............65.7 Citations................62.6 Kingsmen.................51.5 Buccaneers...............38.7 Royal Cadets.............36.5
OPEN Tarheel Sun..............77.9 DIVISION II Bayonne Raiders..........66.6 Kips Bay.................62.5 Spirit of Newark.........55.0 DIVISION III Quest....................56.8 Phoenix (NJ).............52.1 Illusion.................51.9 Wm. G. Lucas.............46.8 1st Baptist Cadets.......46.3 1st Defenders............43.9 Patriots.................66.10 (standstill) Thanks to J. Clarke Williams for emailing us these scores!
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