Chat_Capone

yeah, i know, i was referrring to the prior season...but in 81, float marched a monster drumline, that was absolutely the cleaniest line on the field, no question.

i cant believe jeff played favourites against his old foes, the devs. what was he thinking putting cavies percussion ahead of blue devils...no one else see's that...i would even put crown and bluecoats ahead of cavie's percussion. typical personal gettting in the way, if you ask me...

They clearly outperformed a much more progressive, difficult and interesting program than ANY corps that year and the few following. What a presentation! Simply brilliant. as to this thread...this is most likely one of the most discussed drum corp shows ever...I know from the percussion standpoint, it is regarded as a one-off unique and sterling book/ performance, hence why they won percussion almost with perfect score (finals wasnt perfect...but pre-lims was!) The Star guard and visual package? no one had anything on them in show concept and design...i wasnt in the press box or field evaluating...so that tenth of a point that they needed is a mystery to me...I still get the feeling, it was manipulated. Cadets were much flatter, not sloppy, but ditier...maybe if they had a few more weeks with their show. Then again, their show wasnt that original or clever...sort of rehashed "cadet" ideas with new direction in music/ arranger.

interesting...most people's memory of a past event is beheld by their own personal experience(s). Perhaps you had something else that happend to you in 1990 that might have influenced your overall perception. Perhaps corps wasnt flat, but something else might have flattened it for you.

the following placement. 1. Blue Devils 2. Phantom Regiment 3. Carolina Crown 4. Cadets 5. Cavaliers 6. Bluecoats 7. SCV ... the rest..who cares.

Im not an expert in this, but that could be debated....Sal Salas, Scott Chandler's work with Spirit of Atlanta could be said to birthed the new wave and direction of guards....however, Karl Lowe is incredibly gifted, talented and creative...I have had the pleasure of working on staff with him on multiple occasions.

How about one of the biggest drumlines of all time (think it holds the record in DCI) 1981 Spirit: 12 snares 7 tenors 7 basses 8 cymbals 4 keyboards 1 timp 1 aux. although that was considered a tragic season due to the loss of Jim Ott, that line executed beyond belief...first time ever that basses and snares doubled passages. tom float influenced the activity not only with his cleaning techniques, but his writing.

He marched under Tom Float at UNT...which was and perhaps still the one of the most impressive drumlines...dci-marching band-wgi...ever! Float asked this guy to come and march countless times...Paul could have written his own ticket. I dont know the real reasons why, but they are extremely personal why he wasnt able to march corps during those seasons. I knew this dude was going somewhere when he had his first chance to completely write the show for 1995 VK...yeah, they were dirty, but what they played, how they grooved, how they executed...WOW....although the corps didnt make top 12, the line made it well within. His work with Crown really molded one area of the corps that needed the most work at that time.

In all due respect to Sanford and his tremendous influence on the contemporary marching percussion ensemble, he didnt introduce the multiple-pitched bass drums....it was Muchachos back in the late 60's...they also introduced clustered toms, timbales and congas that eventually led into "timp toms/ tenors/ quads, etc."

Robert W Smith is a genius....he could actually "think" in chordal structures. 1985 was incredible as well...too bad the trends in drill, percussion, visual werent there at the time to take full advantage of Smith's brilliant work. 1988 Suncoast was seen by many, judges, corps staff, etc. as groundbreaking...especially after that horror of a show they put on the field the year prior (My Fair Lady - total crap) I think if Al Murray would have been there in 1988, they could have scored higher, as the percussion scores kept them behind a bit. Suncoast had some amateur percussion staff in 87 - 89, they lost all their competent ones when Kim Lloyd took back over as director and in a cut off the nose to spite his face, fired them all. Tom Float stayed bi-partisan, but used to march with Murray in Anaheim and taught together at Oakland (Murray is a Canuck) and really felt he had been shafted after fielding such a awesome drumline in 86. Murray had last laugh, he is currently vice president of Dynasty.

1990 has its place....a lot of good shows and filling the epitome of this activity: Cadets doing Bernstein...Classic. Crossmen, enjoying their 2nd year back in the top 12 after most of the 80's being out. Very cool show, not as good as 91, but still a jiving and groovy show. Star of Indiana...OMG! incredible show...innovative, beautiful...perhaps the most difficult thing on the field that summer. SCV doing Carmen....great arrangements, fun show, fit well within the SCV scheme (not as good as 91's, but still on track) Cavaliers reviving bits of Gloria, more refined, better execution, better visual (brubaker?), better drumming, hornline still playing half and whole notes, but whatever, they did it well. VK doing the "hollywood" show, but really honoring DCI (music inspired by many corps like Bridgemen, SCV, Blue Devils, Cavies, 27, etc.) Fun show. Okay, Blue Devils was a bit dissapointing (really square and flat approach to the music - not their best)...but hey...it was a hell of a lot better show than 89...Spirit of Atlanta's Scott Chandler arrived on the scene and turned the guard around. Unfortunately it was Tom Float's last year, but the drumline certainly earned their keep, one of the most interesting drum solos. true, 1991 was a better year overall, but 89? no way...1989 was pretty flat...1988 was phenominal.

It doesnt look like Madison, although they finally have a decent percussion staff (former BD). But the corps staff is young and inexperienced...the show design is somewhat lame and status quo. Too bad, this corps used to be a major powerhouse.

Dont worry, I think Cavies have sucked royally since 2006. Its ashame that the real talent of their staff is gone now and they re-staffed with status quo.

you have to look at the total package...not focus on percussion (battery, most likely)... then again, its an opinion...I think crown's GE is way too high, judges thought so too...Crown is basically becoming the new Star.

lol...no one is suggesting that Crown could pass BD....perhaps if the season went to mid september, there is a chance...BD is on fire...innovative program, best GE marks they have gotten in years.