Harrisburg Thoughts

[Tank]

I gotta say "Thanks" to Jeff Ream, because I would not have been on stage Saturday night if it weren't for him. I had a great time on Saturday.

[Jeff Ream]

aww thanks dude. you're always welcome at Shore! you lowered the age of the bari line a lot :P

[Donny Drum Corps]

I am so glad I was invited to go with Erie to this show! That was the most fun I have had in years, playing and hanging out with good drum corps people.

I saw and heard some stuff, but not the whole show...St.Joe's has gotten over a slow winter start to be the entertaining corps that they usually are. Ace is always the man...and Brad DeWall was knocking the high ones out. They were really good and enjoyable.

Park City was loud!!! And actually quite good in an alumni way. It was cool seeing Mr. Bradley, Mr Glovna, and Mr. Findley back into performing!!! Genero and Luddee throwback arrangements were awesome..Rhapsody in Blue, Stormy Weather et al...

Now, I played with Erie and had a ball. Playing with those leads made me kick it up a notch. Jokes were made about me and Nick on the same stage, but that is actually how I got the job at Erie, by breaking Nick's chops on DCP...LOL. Erie has a very good drum line for alumni standards for sure. And while assisting Jeff in warming up the hornline...I note that if they took it seriously they could actually compete in DCA brass wise...a good bunch of people...thanks Gary Matczak.

Cabs Alumni was great as usual. Frank nailed his stuff and Larry Kirchner was a great replacement conductor. His charts are some of the greatest arrangements in drum corps history and stand the test of time. He is an arranger I studied when I was trying to learn how to do this. Some new stuff was received well. Cuban Pete I think was one of the new ones and the trio work was really cool.

Sky Alumni was extremely loud and powerful, and the 14 snares were quite a sight. The lead sops still have that sound I waited to hear on Labor Day as a kid. They had a lot more horns than I thought they would have. The Albany connection is back with Sky and Hank Staab was playing lead too. Dreitzer's charts...again the sound that I studied to find out how he got that sound. Now I remember that the leads were written in an extreme range, and these guys were nailing it. John Grass has always been one of mt heroes on soprano, and he played well on his "dizzy" horn. Conga is a a good dancer!!!

Cabs field corps will be in the hunt in September if I know anything about DCA corps. From the beginning of the walk on performed by the percussion battery, I could tell that Gary Gill wasnt lying to me about this being one of his most talented lines he has ever had. They played clean beats already in April. The horn line is playing very musically, with great soloists, and very deep in the lead trumpet line. Adam, Gordito, Jon, et al were getting the job done very well. The solost in concerto did a great job as well...a lot like the BLAST version. Adam POUNDED his note at the end, I think a trumpet double B.

I have questioned some of the brass arranging in the last few years, but NOT this year. Concerto is a GREAT arrangement, and Malaga is surprisingly well written. It is perhaps the best arrangement I have heard of the chart done by many good corps. If the visual arranging is as good as the brass and percussion arranging, the Cabs could very well be back in the hunt for another title shot.

Combined Cabs will make your ears bleed. It was funny watching the field corps holding their 3rd valves down to put the horns in G.

Party was awesome and the Cabs Latin Express mini corps debutted. Gordito is my new hero!!! If they add some more baritones and clean it up some, they will be a fun group to see added to the Friday night show at DCA.

Donny

PS...I was called a whore. I dont think I am. Then I was asked how many uniforms I have. I cannot help the fact that People call me to arrange for their corps and teach them. If I get a chance to play as well, I enjoy it. It so happens that The Erie Thunderbirds called me to do some stuff and I complied. I am glad that I did. I had a BLAST playing with Jeff, Nick, Dr. Joe Allen, Mike S. Mike H. Young Dan and the rest of the guys.

Edited April 10, 2006 by donnymusic

[El_Chestus]

Thanks for comming along DA!

I'ts also great to see you had as much fun as the rest of us(t-birds) :)

What a show!!!

[FPonzo]

I am so glad I was invited to go with Erie to this show! That was the most fun I have had in years, playing and hanging out with good drum corps people.

I saw and heard some stuff, but not the whole show...St.Joe's has gotten over a slow winter start to be the entertaining corps that they usually are. Ace is always the man...and Brad DeWall was knocking the high ones out. They were really good and enjoyable.

Park City was loud!!! And actually quite good in an alumni way. It was cool seeing Mr. Bradley, Mr Glovna, and Mr. Findley back into performing!!! Genero and Luddee throwback arrangements were awesome..Rhapsody in Blue, Stormy Weather et al...

Now, I played with Erie and had a ball. Playing with those leads made me kick it up a notch. Jokes were made about me and Nick on the same stage, but that is actually how I got the job at Erie, by breaking Nick's chops on DCP...LOL. Erie has a very good drum line for alumni standards for sure. And while assisting Jeff in warming up the hornline...I note that if they took it seriously they could actually compete in DCA brass wise...a good bunch of people...thanks Gary Matczak.

Cabs Alumni was great as usual. Frank nailed his stuff and Larry Kirchner was a great replacement conductor. His charts are some of the greatest arrangements in drum corps history and stand the test of time. He is an arranger I studied when I was trying to learn how to do this. Some new stuff was received well. Cuban Pete I think was one of the new ones and the trio work was really cool.

Sky Alumni was extremely loud and powerful, and the 14 snares were quite a sight. The lead sops still have that sound I waited to hear on Labor Day as a kid. They had a lot more horns than I thought they would have. The Albany connection is back with Sky and Hank Staab was playing lead too. Dreitzer's charts...again the sound that I studied to find out how he got that sound. Now I remember that the leads were written in an extreme range, and these guys were nailing it. John Grass has always been one of mt heroes on soprano, and he played well on his "dizzy" horn. Conga is a a good dancer!!!

Cabs field corps will be in the hunt in September if I know anything about DCA corps. From the beginning of the walk on performed by the percussion battery, I could tell that Gary Gill wasnt lying to me about this being one of his most talented lines he has ever had. They played clean beats already in April. The horn line is playing very musically, with great soloists, and very deep in the lead trumpet line. Adam, Gordito, Jon, et al were getting the job done very well. The solost in concerto did a great job as well...a lot like the BLAST version. Adam POUNDED his note at the end, I think a trumpet double B.

I have questioned some of the brass arranging in the last few years, but NOT this year. Concerto is a GREAT arrangement, and Malaga is surprisingly well written. It is perhaps the best arrangement I have heard of the chart done by many good corps. If the visual arranging is as good as the brass and percussion arranging, the Cabs could very well be back in the hunt for another title shot.

Combined Cabs will make your ears bleed. It was funny watching the field corps holding their 3rd valves down to put the horns in G.

Party was awesome and the Cabs Latin Express mini corps debutted. Gordito is my new hero!!! If they add some more baritones and clean it up some, they will be a fun group to see added to the Friday night show at DCA.

Donny

PS...I was called a whore. I dont think I am. Then I was asked how many uniforms I have. I cannot help the fact that People call me to arrange for their corps and teach them. If I get a chance to play as well, I enjoy it. It so happens that The Erie Thunderbirds called me to do some stuff and I complied. I am glad that I did. I had a BLAST playing with Jeff, Nick, Dr. Joe Allen, Mike S. Mike H. Young Dan and the rest of the guys.

Hey Donnie........thanks for the kind words. Yeah...I was one of them who called you a whore, but you called me a pig....so we are even!!! HAHAHAHA

Our Rep consists of:

"Espiritu del Toro" (Muchachos opener from 1974 I believe)

"Cachita" (not "Cuban Pete" where the trio is....hmmmmm...some Cabs fan you are!!! LOL)

"MacArthur Park"

"Pagliacci"

"Serenata"

and our traditional ending.

I watched Erie from the rafters as we were on right after you guys. Real nice book Donnie.....some great jazz stuff happening in there, only like you know how to write them. I thought I recognized one of the tunes that Empire did 'back in the day' when you were one of the soloists....was it (I don;t recall the name of the tune, but it had one of those cool chords that Empire made famous!!! ) One of my all time favorite Empire tunes done extremely well by Erie!!!

Great seeing you again......I know your here on the Island all the time.....you should give me a call and we'll go to dinner!

Edited April 10, 2006 by FPonzo

[Cabstuba04]

I am so glad I was invited to go with Erie to this show! That was the most fun I have had in years, playing and hanging out with good drum corps people.

I saw and heard some stuff, but not the whole show...St.Joe's has gotten over a slow winter start to be the entertaining corps that they usually are. Ace is always the man...and Brad DeWall was knocking the high ones out. They were really good and enjoyable.

Park City was loud!!! And actually quite good in an alumni way. It was cool seeing Mr. Bradley, Mr Glovna, and Mr. Findley back into performing!!! Genero and Luddee throwback arrangements were awesome..Rhapsody in Blue, Stormy Weather et al...

Now, I played with Erie and had a ball. Playing with those leads made me kick it up a notch. Jokes were made about me and Nick on the same stage, but that is actually how I got the job at Erie, by breaking Nick's chops on DCP...LOL. Erie has a very good drum line for alumni standards for sure. And while assisting Jeff in warming up the hornline...I note that if they took it seriously they could actually compete in DCA brass wise...a good bunch of people...thanks Gary Matczak.

Cabs Alumni was great as usual. Frank nailed his stuff and Larry Kirchner was a great replacement conductor. His charts are some of the greatest arrangements in drum corps history and stand the test of time. He is an arranger I studied when I was trying to learn how to do this. Some new stuff was received well. Cuban Pete I think was one of the new ones and the trio work was really cool.

Sky Alumni was extremely loud and powerful, and the 14 snares were quite a sight. The lead sops still have that sound I waited to hear on Labor Day as a kid. They had a lot more horns than I thought they would have. The Albany connection is back with Sky and Hank Staab was playing lead too. Dreitzer's charts...again the sound that I studied to find out how he got that sound. Now I remember that the leads were written in an extreme range, and these guys were nailing it. John Grass has always been one of mt heroes on soprano, and he played well on his "dizzy" horn. Conga is a a good dancer!!!

Cabs field corps will be in the hunt in September if I know anything about DCA corps. From the beginning of the walk on performed by the percussion battery, I could tell that Gary Gill wasnt lying to me about this being one of his most talented lines he has ever had. They played clean beats already in April. The horn line is playing very musically, with great soloists, and very deep in the lead trumpet line. Adam, Gordito, Jon, et al were getting the job done very well. The solost in concerto did a great job as well...a lot like the BLAST version. Adam POUNDED his note at the end, I think a trumpet double B.

I have questioned some of the brass arranging in the last few years, but NOT this year. Concerto is a GREAT arrangement, and Malaga is surprisingly well written. It is perhaps the best arrangement I have heard of the chart done by many good corps. If the visual arranging is as good as the brass and percussion arranging, the Cabs could very well be back in the hunt for another title shot.

Combined Cabs will make your ears bleed. It was funny watching the field corps holding their 3rd valves down to put the horns in G.

Party was awesome and the Cabs Latin Express mini corps debutted. Gordito is my new hero!!! If they add some more baritones and clean it up some, they will be a fun group to see added to the Friday night show at DCA.

Donny

PS...I was called a whore. I dont think I am. Then I was asked how many uniforms I have. I cannot help the fact that People call me to arrange for their corps and teach them. If I get a chance to play as well, I enjoy it. It so happens that The Erie Thunderbirds called me to do some stuff and I complied. I am glad that I did. I had a BLAST playing with Jeff, Nick, Dr. Joe Allen, Mike S. Mike H. Young Dan and the rest of the guys.

Donny,

Thanks for the kind words. Looking forward to another very competitive summer. We had a blast. This summer is going to be a lot of fun.

Mike Ryan

Cabs 1975-2006

[Gary Matczak]

I am so glad I was invited to go with Erie to this show! That was the most fun I have had in years, playing and hanging out with good drum corps people.

Now, I played with Erie and had a ball. Playing with those leads made me kick it up a notch. Jokes were made about me and Nick on the same stage, but that is actually how I got the job at Erie, by breaking Nick's chops on DCP...LOL. Erie has a very good drum line for alumni standards for sure. And while assisting Jeff in warming up the hornline...I note that if they took it seriously they could actually compete in DCA brass wise...a good bunch of people...thanks Gary Matczak.

PS...I was called a whore. I dont think I am. Then I was asked how many uniforms I have. I cannot help the fact that People call me to arrange for their corps and teach them. If I get a chance to play as well, I enjoy it. It so happens that The Erie Thunderbirds called me to do some stuff and I complied. I am glad that I did. I had a BLAST playing with Jeff, Nick, Dr. Joe Allen, Mike S. Mike H. Young Dan and the rest of the guys.

well simply put,............We are honored to have you with us,............and fortunate, in the timing of things, that you are available to work with our corps,..................

Edited April 10, 2006 by Gary Matczak

[melligene]

I am so glad I was invited to go with Erie to this show! That was the most fun I have had in years, playing and hanging out with good drum corps people.

I saw and heard some stuff, but not the whole show...St.Joe's has gotten over a slow winter start to be the entertaining corps that they usually are. Ace is always the man...and Brad DeWall was knocking the high ones out. They were really good and enjoyable.

Park City was loud!!! And actually quite good in an alumni way. It was cool seeing Mr. Bradley, Mr Glovna, and Mr. Findley back into performing!!! Genero and Luddee throwback arrangements were awesome..Rhapsody in Blue, Stormy Weather et al...

Now, I played with Erie and had a ball. Playing with those leads made me kick it up a notch. Jokes were made about me and Nick on the same stage, but that is actually how I got the job at Erie, by breaking Nick's chops on DCP...LOL. Erie has a very good drum line for alumni standards for sure. And while assisting Jeff in warming up the hornline...I note that if they took it seriously they could actually compete in DCA brass wise...a good bunch of people...thanks Gary Matczak.

Cabs Alumni was great as usual. Frank nailed his stuff and Larry Kirchner was a great replacement conductor. His charts are some of the greatest arrangements in drum corps history and stand the test of time. He is an arranger I studied when I was trying to learn how to do this. Some new stuff was received well. Cuban Pete I think was one of the new ones and the trio work was really cool.

Sky Alumni was extremely loud and powerful, and the 14 snares were quite a sight. The lead sops still have that sound I waited to hear on Labor Day as a kid. They had a lot more horns than I thought they would have. The Albany connection is back with Sky and Hank Staab was playing lead too. Dreitzer's charts...again the sound that I studied to find out how he got that sound. Now I remember that the leads were written in an extreme range, and these guys were nailing it. John Grass has always been one of mt heroes on soprano, and he played well on his "dizzy" horn. Conga is a a good dancer!!!

Cabs field corps will be in the hunt in September if I know anything about DCA corps. From the beginning of the walk on performed by the percussion battery, I could tell that Gary Gill wasnt lying to me about this being one of his most talented lines he has ever had. They played clean beats already in April. The horn line is playing very musically, with great soloists, and very deep in the lead trumpet line. Adam, Gordito, Jon, et al were getting the job done very well. The solost in concerto did a great job as well...a lot like the BLAST version. Adam POUNDED his note at the end, I think a trumpet double B.

I have questioned some of the brass arranging in the last few years, but NOT this year. Concerto is a GREAT arrangement, and Malaga is surprisingly well written. It is perhaps the best arrangement I have heard of the chart done by many good corps. If the visual arranging is as good as the brass and percussion arranging, the Cabs could very well be back in the hunt for another title shot.

Combined Cabs will make your ears bleed. It was funny watching the field corps holding their 3rd valves down to put the horns in G.

Party was awesome and the Cabs Latin Express mini corps debutted. Gordito is my new hero!!! If they add some more baritones and clean it up some, they will be a fun group to see added to the Friday night show at DCA.

Donny

PS...I was called a whore. I dont think I am. Then I was asked how many uniforms I have. I cannot help the fact that People call me to arrange for their corps and teach them. If I get a chance to play as well, I enjoy it. It so happens that The Erie Thunderbirds called me to do some stuff and I complied. I am glad that I did. I had a BLAST playing with Jeff, Nick, Dr. Joe Allen, Mike S. Mike H. Young Dan and the rest of the guys.

GEEZ DA...........Where did the "tact" come from...... "Diplomacy" might be a better word to analyze your comments. You have found a stealthful way of critiquing without offending.( a.k.a. pissing people off) I guess that's why you are so much in demand and I, personally, wouldn't have it any other way. I know it has been a little tough for you to help instruct an Alumni Corps' when you have the drive to write for and instruct a competitive Corps' but now may the time to kick back and "ENJOY" (if that's possible for you) arranging, playing, conducting, instructing..........AND a shot of "Geritol" on occasion......... b**bs

[melligene]

I am so glad I was invited to go with Erie to this show! That was the most fun I have had in years, playing and hanging out with good drum corps people.

I saw and heard some stuff, but not the whole show...St.Joe's has gotten over a slow winter start to be the entertaining corps that they usually are. Ace is always the man...and Brad DeWall was knocking the high ones out. They were really good and enjoyable.

Park City was loud!!! And actually quite good in an alumni way. It was cool seeing Mr. Bradley, Mr Glovna, and Mr. Findley back into performing!!! Genero and Luddee throwback arrangements were awesome..Rhapsody in Blue, Stormy Weather et al...

Now, I played with Erie and had a ball. Playing with those leads made me kick it up a notch. Jokes were made about me and Nick on the same stage, but that is actually how I got the job at Erie, by breaking Nick's chops on DCP...LOL. Erie has a very good drum line for alumni standards for sure. And while assisting Jeff in warming up the hornline...I note that if they took it seriously they could actually compete in DCA brass wise...a good bunch of people...thanks Gary Matczak.

Cabs Alumni was great as usual. Frank nailed his stuff and Larry Kirchner was a great replacement conductor. His charts are some of the greatest arrangements in drum corps history and stand the test of time. He is an arranger I studied when I was trying to learn how to do this. Some new stuff was received well. Cuban Pete I think was one of the new ones and the trio work was really cool.

Sky Alumni was extremely loud and powerful, and the 14 snares were quite a sight. The lead sops still have that sound I waited to hear on Labor Day as a kid. They had a lot more horns than I thought they would have. The Albany connection is back with Sky and Hank Staab was playing lead too. Dreitzer's charts...again the sound that I studied to find out how he got that sound. Now I remember that the leads were written in an extreme range, and these guys were nailing it. John Grass has always been one of mt heroes on soprano, and he played well on his "dizzy" horn. Conga is a a good dancer!!!

Cabs field corps will be in the hunt in September if I know anything about DCA corps. From the beginning of the walk on performed by the percussion battery, I could tell that Gary Gill wasnt lying to me about this being one of his most talented lines he has ever had. They played clean beats already in April. The horn line is playing very musically, with great soloists, and very deep in the lead trumpet line. Adam, Gordito, Jon, et al were getting the job done very well. The solost in concerto did a great job as well...a lot like the BLAST version. Adam POUNDED his note at the end, I think a trumpet double B.

I have questioned some of the brass arranging in the last few years, but NOT this year. Concerto is a GREAT arrangement, and Malaga is surprisingly well written. It is perhaps the best arrangement I have heard of the chart done by many good corps. If the visual arranging is as good as the brass and percussion arranging, the Cabs could very well be back in the hunt for another title shot.

Combined Cabs will make your ears bleed. It was funny watching the field corps holding their 3rd valves down to put the horns in G.

Party was awesome and the Cabs Latin Express mini corps debutted. Gordito is my new hero!!! If they add some more baritones and clean it up some, they will be a fun group to see added to the Friday night show at DCA.

Donny

PS...I was called a whore. I dont think I am. Then I was asked how many uniforms I have. I cannot help the fact that People call me to arrange for their corps and teach them. If I get a chance to play as well, I enjoy it. It so happens that The Erie Thunderbirds called me to do some stuff and I complied. I am glad that I did. I had a BLAST playing with Jeff, Nick, Dr. Joe Allen, Mike S. Mike H. Young Dan and the rest of the guys.

GEEZ DA...........Where did the "tact" come from...... "Diplomacy" might be a better word to analyze your comments. You have found a stealthful way of critiquing without offending.( a.k.a. pissing people off) I guess that's why you are so much in demand and I, personally, wouldn't have it any other way. I know it has been a little tough for you to help instruct an Alumni Corps' when you have the drive to write for and instruct a competitive Corps' but now may the time to kick back and "ENJOY" (if that's possible for you....at least for a little while) ..........AND a shot of "Geritol" on occasion......... b**bs

Edited April 10, 2006 by melligene

[Donny Drum Corps]

yeah...Chicita thats what I meant.