Scout75

I agree. That person would be Chris Tomsa

Chris Tomsa for Scouts Director His blood runs green, he knows the Scout Story, and lived a big part of it himself. He will bring back the "ELVORD VIBE" ALL NEW BRASS STAFF with strong jazz/latin jazz backgrounds (no Corps Heads!) No more senseless shows with meaningless notes, PLEASE!!! The music of the Count Basie Orchestra, would work just fine. If you feel the Count didn't play enough notes to feed the judges, please refer to "Whirlybird", "Wind Machine" etc.............. Thank You

Mr. Rocco, His name is ELVORD. I am not suggesting Jimmy Elvord teach the Scouts. I am only saying that Tomsa will bring the ELVORD VIBE! If you do not know what the ELVORD VIBE IS, talk to any former Scout, and they will explain.

I feel that Chris Tomsa is the man to run the Scouts. He will bring the ELVORD VIBE back to the scouts. If you do not know what the ELVORD VIBE is, LOOK IT UP! Chris Tomsa's blood runs green, he knows the Scout Story, and lived a big part of it himself. Wish List 1) ALL NEW brass staff with STRONG jazz/latin jazz backgrounds ( no corps heads!!!) 2) Keep Colin (he knows how to groove, and may not be afraid to write some grooves) DON'T FEAR!! The tenors may still stop grooving in support of the music, stand still (like all the other kids) and play pigley-wigley, helicoptor, criss cross, look what we can do, with a high double stop (Take That! finish.) 3) I don't know a #### thing about visual, just fix the musical issues PLEASE!!! 3) No more senseless shows with meaningless notes.

CHRIS TOMSA for director ( his blood is green, he knows the story, he can lead, and inspire) ALL NEW Brass staff with strong jazz backgrounds. No corps heads!!! (senseless shows with meaningless notes) Keep Colin ( he knows how to, and may not be afraid to write grooves) I don't know a #### thing about visual, JUST fix the musical issues, PLEASE!!!

My comments have nothing to do with the visual program of the Scouts, nor do they have anything to do with the fact that they continue do a fine job of building young men. I just finished listening to the Scouts recording from Columbia, MO. I am sorry to say that the boys from Madison may find themselves out of finals in Madison this year. IMO, the show is an absolute musical MESS! Disjunct, incomplete phrases, senseless keyboard runs, cliche bass drum riffs, Stop and Go, Loud, Dark nonsense. Loud, Louder, and Ugly, Out of tune soloists, more senseless keyboard runs, more cliche bass drum riffs, dirty, drier than dry snares, more Loud broken phrases, and the absolute distruction of "Snippets of Themes" from composers, Albeniz, Ginastera, and Morricone. How very sad (IMO) that the music of; The Count Basie Orchestra, Stan Kenton, Mel Lewis/Thad Jones, Don Ellis, Duke Ellington, Tito Puente, Toshiko Akioyshi/Lew Tabakin, Scott Whitfield Jazz Orchestra, and many, many, many more great Jazz and Latin bands, would be considered way too trite and simple for the boys to play. It's probably better this way, because I would not just tear up, but would have to be admitted to a hospital if they were to add all of the required tumbling runs to the music of the afore mentioned artists. There is plenty of music out there. But when ARRANGERS try to out ARRANGE each other, this is what you get. Most corps would be happy to have the students from Texas that the Scouts did not accept. They have more than enough talent to succeed, I just don't get it. The kids will drink the Kool-Aid. Be more careful and thoughtful about what flavor of Kool-Aid you prepare for them. It was said that "Primal Forces" would be harder and faster than the "Bizet Destruction" of '05. Well, mission accomplished! I think if they could play the show in Cut Time, the keyboard runs would be even "faster" than the other kids. Double the volume of the loud for louds sake stuff, and then you'll really have something. God bless any corps that is willing to complete ONE musical phrase during their program. DCI should consider having "The People's Champion" and then the ever coveted, "Hardest, Fastest, Darkest, Loudest, Champion" . Note counters should also be incorporated. The corps that plays the most notes wins! Yea! Please make a point to witness the Scouts "Alumni Project" . As trite as it may seem to some, it will contain complete melodic lines and phrases. It will engage and CONNECT with the audience. They will make you SMILE, STAND, and also cry tears of joy for the historical, melodic, and emotional contnet of their program. They will be the hottest thing in Madison, except fot the temp. on the turf.

'79 Guardsmen

Santa Clara '74 chose as defending champions to perform before the Scouts in finals. They were third in prelims. The Scouts had won prelims and were a lock for finals. Scouts have a "freaky" thats never happened before performance. Member falls in opener, another member's mouthpiece falls out! An "I can't believe this is happening thing"! But it did! And Santa Clara WON!

The Muchachos weren't bad either!

'75 CYO Nationals / Boston College / Muchchos Drumline / Wow! Wow! Wow!

Scouts '74-'75 Copper TDR's under the "Red Velvet" covers Guardsmen '79 White Gloss Slingerland's with Black Chrome Hardware, Gloss Black Tenor Interiors (6-Quads in that line) also the first line to use XL Carriers

Blue Rock / Late 60's - Early 70's Suzy Sticks was a "fine" snare drummer, great hands, on the shorter side, but locked in the "Marella" look, and sound. She might even have been section leader for a couple of seasons she marched. Their entire corps did rock! (pun intended!) They had some excellent lines during her time period. Their hands were lower than most east coast lines, less flow and arm contribution than a Thompson/DeLucia line. More of a "west coast", Anaheim thing. Lotsa wrist and fingers. Very clean, tight sound. I loved watching them on the field and partying with them as well! They also "grooved" quite well on the Buddy Rich Band's version of "Midnight Cowboy" "Groove" is an old school term. pre, kevlar/ pre, compressed, gated, ticky, thin rim shots/ mo fatter/ more Gadd like, less Virgil Donati twice as fast as the other kids / pre, helicoptor cheese mother swish flamity drag things More ladies of the snare lines to come! Including: Janet Kurtz/Bridgemen '73, and much more "scoop" on Cindy Inden (Guardsmen '78-'80)