Guest GeorgeD Posted May 28, 2002 Share Posted May 28, 2002 Nice post on BD Forum from their member: JWC507 (snip) <<<So I spent some time this weekend in south Jersey checking out the Cadets and Crossmen who are preparing for their Memorial Day concert tonight. I got to hear both corps playing their full shows and I saw a little bit of Cadets doing some opener drill. Initial reaction after seeing and hearing all of this... - if the Cadets win finals this year with this show, I will be SHOCKED. I knew that Jay Bocook wasn't arranging for them this year, but I didn't think the difference would be this drastic. Don Hill is a good guy and a talented arranger, but this totally does NOT "sound like" the Cadets. That mellophone fire is just not there and the whole thing sounds like...well, a lot of it sounds like a senior corps show. They are playing ok for this time of year, and I'm sure they'll be able to get it clean, but I just don't like the show and I don't think it's anywhere near the type of championship calliber it will take to be at the top this year. (Crossmen's musical book is more complex and difficult BY FAR.) Cadets drumline will be VERY good this year. They are just doing what they do and continuing the program. Also, the guard looks to be better this year, and no surprise there, as April Gilligan is back at the helm. For all those who complained about the quasi-rifles last year, they are gone...traditional guard equipment this year. The opener drill I saw looked to have that classic Marc Sylvester velocity to it...I wish I could have gotten closer to check things out, but they were hauling butt. Oh, and for all of you who didn't like the whole stomp box/drum set thing from '94 and '95....they're baaaack! Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy...I don't know what to say. I guess audiences will like it because it's fun and recognizable, but ....well, see my senior corps comment above. The big surprise for me this weekend was the Crossmen. After hearing them play through this show, I already know it will probably be my favorite show for the summer. I knew they would most likely be a strong corps again this summer, but this show is a major step up in demand and sophistication for them. (This ain't Birdland!) Expecting a big bang off at top of the show, instead they begin with a pit feature...VERY tasty with some cool percussive moments setting up the Metheny opener. Considering the difficulty of the brass book, I was very impressed with how well the brass was playing for this time of year. I'm sure it will take much time for it to be clean on the field, but when it is, it will be some hot stuff. There is just so much energy in the arrangements (both Chuck Naffier's brass parts and Lee Beddis' drum parts), that it really builds and releases tension quite well, and the end of the opener reminds me of the end of the 1991 Crossmen opener. Great stuff! Strawberry Soup...well, I didn't have very high expectations, especially after being so comfortable with the classic Madison version of the early 80's and the great brass performance of BD in '93. But they have managed to make this tune completely their own. Percussively, this is the best Soup EVER. The ending is just SICK! And there are enough unique things going on with the brass that it really captures that great groove that works so well with the Crossmen. I totally dug it. They haven't let their screamers loose yet in this song, but I've been told that that's on the way. I did catch a few glimpses of their color guard and they look STRONG, and their hornline was doing a bit of the opener drill earlier in the day...again, from a first glance, it looks to be FAR more complex and demanding than what they have done in the past. I was way impressed with Crossmen's marching last summer, and they look like they will be stronger this year.>>>> read the remainder of the post and thread here: Link To Post On BD Forum (new window) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmen89 Posted May 28, 2002 Share Posted May 28, 2002 Thanks for the review. Can't wait to see Crossmen this summer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JT76 Posted May 30, 2002 Share Posted May 30, 2002 This just makes me more excited about seeing the Crossmen this year!!! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrumCorpsFreak Posted May 30, 2002 Share Posted May 30, 2002 Never underestimate THE CADETS !!!!! Cadets fan Marc :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GeorgeD Posted May 30, 2002 Share Posted May 30, 2002 Never underestimate THE CADETS !!!!! Yeah..just ask SCV or BD, they'll tell you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrangerx Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 Hey folks, Just finished another day here at Spring Training with the Crossmen. Just wanted to say that we're having one h### of a lot of fun, and cannot wait to perform this show for an audience in a stadium! I truly hope you all will enjoy viewing the show as much as we're enjoying putting it together. Well, back to staff meetings and the like. . . Chuck Naffier Crossmen Brass Arranger Crossmen Program Coordinator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlhiatt Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 Can't wait to hear you guys. And "Strawberry Soup" rocks! I even burned my old copy of Tears of Joy onto CD. Pops and all. Sure wish Sony would reissue that stuff! BTW, I'm so glad you're playing new YAMAHA horns. And tell Lee [beddis] I LOVE those red snares with the black powder-coated hardware! My prediction? "In sixth place, with a score of 91.75, nine-one-point-seven-five, THE CROSSMEN!" B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MikeM Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 Hey Chuck, thanks for the update. I'm sure Crossmen are gonna be awesome this year. Can't wait to see them!!! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrold99 Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 Hope Crossmen is doing great this year! greetz Harrold Crossmen 1999/2001 The Netherlands Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RenegadeBaritone Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 Nice post on BD Forum from their member: JWC507(snip) <<< I knew that Jay Bocook wasn't arranging for them this year, but I didn't think the difference would be this drastic. Don Hill is a good guy and a talented arranger, but this totally does NOT "sound like" the Cadets. That mellophone fire is just not there and the whole thing sounds like...well, a lot of it sounds like a senior corps show. They are playing ok for this time of year, and I'm sure they'll be able to get it clean, but I just don't like the show and I don't think it's anywhere near the type of championship calliber it will take to be at the top this year. (Crossmen's musical book is more complex and difficult BY FAR.) Cadets drumline will be VERY good this year. They are just doing what they do and continuing the program. Also, the guard looks to be better this year, and no surprise there, as April Gilligan is back at the helm. For all those who complained about the quasi-rifles last year, they are gone...traditional guard equipment this year. The opener drill I saw looked to have that classic Marc Sylvester velocity to it...I wish I could have gotten closer to check things out, but they were hauling butt. >>>> read the remainder of the post and thread here: Link To Post On BD Forum (new window) I wonder what a "senior corps" show is to this guy though...to me it means "entertaining, loud, fun, exciting, and something to leave me humming back to my car wanting more." I am glad to hear Gilligan is back with Cadets. I feared she was stuck with the professor and was never going to get off the island. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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