My $.02 on the state of drum corps after Murfreesboro

[saxfreq1128]

americas got talent. give the audience buzzers and when the corps is boring XXX. OFF THE FIELD. YAWN. TAKE YOUR MIRRORS AND LAST YEARS CHAIRS AND OPEN A BEAUTY SALON. BRING BACK IN YOUR FACE JAZZ

Define 'jazz.'

Miles Davis wasn't particularly "in your face." Does he qualify?

I can see why some might find the show boring. But, oddly enough, I don't think the corps in question is lacking "in your face" or "jazz" this year.

[Tez]

americas got talent. give the audience buzzers and when the corps is boring XXX. OFF THE FIELD. YAWN. TAKE YOUR MIRRORS AND LAST YEARS CHAIRS AND OPEN A BEAUTY SALON. BRING BACK IN YOUR FACE JAZZ

If BD's show this year is not a perfect example of "In Your Face Jazz" then I don't know what is..... and I am a professional jazz musician.

[skywhopper]

When did the Cadets get cheesy?

Uhh... have you been around for the past decade? Seriously.

Alternatively, 1982.

[atlvalet]

Uhh... have you been around for the past decade? Seriously.

Alternatively, 1982.

Yes, but I was hoping for change. I still remember 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 2000 and yearn for those days.

[Rifuarian]

americas got talent. give the audience buzzers and when the corps is boring XXX. OFF THE FIELD. YAWN. TAKE YOUR MIRRORS AND LAST YEARS CHAIRS AND OPEN A BEAUTY SALON. BRING BACK IN YOUR FACE JAZZ

I'm not really sure if can get more "jazz" than BD's current show, and it's nothing if not IN YOUR FACE.

[hockeygirlzmom]

IT ACTUALLY IS STUCK. OLD COMPUTOR. IT GOES BACK AND FORTH. I AM NOT SHOUTING. ITS STUCK

Okay now you made me laugh! Touche'

[BAC oboist]

IT ACTUALLY IS STUCK. OLD COMPUTOR. IT GOES BACK AND FORTH. I AM NOT SHOUTING. ITS STUCK

Even his computer is a dinosaur.

[garfield]

on #6, you forgot every drum break must end with unison slams played from above the head.

I complained about this last year and got crickets, except for one reply that was something like "...oh, just let them play and enjoy it!" Please?

I thought last year that it was a reflection of a chicken perc arranger. I think the same thing this year, although not as many are doing it this year.

Oh, and it wasn't just the drum break. Many used the same technique (?) for their closer, too.

[garfield]

And yet it's being embraced by many traditionalists on here. SCV last year was also well-loved - ostensibly in spite of the presence of synthesizer. I've seen it claimed in many a thread that Phantom 2008 worked because it was "old school". Synths weren't legal yet, but amplification was. Tell me, what do you see in this picture?

I see a drum major blowing his nose on a speaker, and another drum major tickling him with a long stick (see him laughing? He's telling him a joke, too).

What do you see?

The only thing more epic than this picture was Brandt Crocker saying "In second place..." THAT was the most thunderous moment I've ever experienced in 35 years of sitting in the stands at finals.

Edited August 3, 2010 by garfield

[IMcomguy]

I'm not really sure if can get more "jazz" than BD's current show, and it's nothing if not IN YOUR FACE.

Yes, although extremely acidic and nothing but a blended concoction of multiple pieces that used to be enjoyable to listen to. Why even play it when half the time you can't pick up the slightest hint of an extended duration containing their melody? I'm sure Stan Kenton loves their interpretation of 4 bars of La Suerte de los Tontos.

Sorry, but what once were understandable and accepted standards of the jazz idiom, are now a cluster of non-melodic musical garbage. But I guess I'm not qualified enough, I only played in jazz ensembles through college.

The 1980 and 1992 BD alums are even a little lost/frustrated/upset with the musical design choices this year (I talked to one of them at the Charleston show personally!). When your alums are even lost, the quiet crowd reaction should be the last thing on your mind.

/rant