patrickzampetti

70 Boston under Shellmer with all the new percussion voices 76 Bayonne 83 Garfield 93 Star 02 Cavies

Cadets 2011 HNC 2009 Cadets 2005 Cavies 2004 Cadets 2000 Cadets 1987 Cadets 1984 Cadets 1983 (most memorable) Cadets 1982 27 1981 Cadets and Spirit 1980 SCV 1978 Cadets, BD and Bridgemen 1976 Madison and Muchachos 1975 SCV and Troopers 1974

scaffolding is also not an instrument unless you saw my Architecture presentation at NJIT in 1978.

I really appreciate the photos and the time dedicated to the review. I was at the Chesapeake area show last night and found lots of excitement in both Crown and Cadets though I thought Cadets have a lot more room to improve. I must admit that I was disappointed with Crossmen after having such high hopes for them this year. Even the battery, which has plenty of talent and a strong staff, was plagued with performance issues. I hope for much better things from the TexMen in the future but this show does not appear to be the right vehicle for the corps right now.

The metamorphic transformation of St. Andrew's Bridgeman to the Bayonne Bridgeman in 1976. Cadet Style Jackets became yellow "Pimp Suits"...need I say more?

A tie...already!!!!

Now there are 6

27th Lancers "27" appearing out of nowhere approx 1976

Very well said. I hope that the Cadets can continue to fine tune the composition to acheive the level that is true of all good artistic acheivement: that it is finished not when everything that can be added is added, but when all that can be removed is removed. There is a balance between voice and music and it is perfectly understandable that many who come to watch expecting drums and bugles are put off by the concept of telling a story with voice. My main concern with the show is that the magical moment that the ending is trying to create is hampered by a conflict of scale on the large canvas vs the quiet focus of the stage, where these effects have more impact. I think a large visual effect at the finger snap would help to ramp up the scale of the moment so that it creates the desired effect.

I saw them at the Meadowlands show. Brass performance and some good old-fashoned GE are needed. Percussion and guard seemed fine to me. At some points, I almost felt that the show was too layered and intricate. Compare Crown's opening hit to the Crossmen's. You can see it coming a mile away but the staging is there to deliver the goods along with some great Brass performance to get it done. Is it effective? You bet it is. Something as simple as a full Russian Christmas reprise at the end of the show would get the crowd (and the scores) up.

For me, the juxtaposition of the new vs. old makes the experience better. My 2 cents...get rid of the guns. Guns kill people which is bad so don't do that.

My list has very little to do with the opinions of the judges but a whole lot to do with my personal memory and emotion. My top pick is 1983...shockwaves are still being felt as they reverberate through the stadiums of America. Thank you George, Jimmer, and Thom for creating a work of beautifully coordinated art. here are 7 more. 2000 1984 ABC's Stonehenge 2005 1993 1976 (best corps not to make finals. First to break 80 that year. 13+ point swing last few days prior to prelims) Here are 2 special ones for me. Thanks for the mention of 1977; my first year as a Cadet. Frank Dorrite's Brass section placed first at CYO. Unfortunately, our filthy percussion section held the entire corps back and even eroded the brass scores in the end. Shelmer's parts were fun but very exposed and difficult to clean. One of my top "bang and blow" moments was sitting in front of the horn arc as they played Pieces of Dreams. Chris Trimblet was such a great sop soloist. His brother was as nice on baritone. My other show that holds a special place in my memory is 1980. Imagine a prizefighter taking an 8 count before willing himself to a standing position and then winning the fight. Amid talk of merging, folding, 19 horns at the April camp, no money, and staff issues, the corps climbs back from the dead to place 10th in finals, tying SCV in drums in prelims. There would be no Cadets today had we not committed ourselves so fully to completing the task. Kudos to Doc Santo for always keeping the vision of the goal in focus.

Rodney confessed that he stopped judging us in 77 because we were going to be zero'd out. I miss Rodney.

Class A 15 Aug 1979 1 Black Watch (NJ) 63.850 2 Stardusters 63.300 3 Conquistadors 59.550 4 Fitchburg Kingsmen 56.450 5 Geneseo Knights 55.650 6 Golden Knights 54.050 7 Buckeye State Caballaros 54.000 8 Amvet Brigadiers 53.250 9 Spartans (WA) 50.250 10 Vaqueros 43.200 11 Madison Junior Scouts 42.700 12 Bleu Raeders 40.450 13 Fantasia III 40.000 14 Memorial Lancers 38.050 15 Kiltie Kadets 35.700 16 Sundowners 35.000 17 Flying Dutchmen 22.350 18 Iron Cross 12.050 I'm thinkin' Iron Cross will take it all in August. Brass sound was a little spotty that day back in August of 79 but they have been working on it. ps: my old corps, the Cranford Patriots were competing in that show under their new name; Fantasia III, and managed a 40.00.