ssorrell Posted December 1, 2006 Share Posted December 1, 2006 I can't vote for one, and not just because I like more than one arranger, but more because I like each corps for their different strengths: I like the arrangements for Cavies because of the flow and cohesiveness of the material. I like the arrangements of Phantom because of their tradition of sticking to the classical idiom and how well Jim Wren, Klesch, and now JD Shaw portrays the original composition on a football field. I like the arrangements of Blue Devils for their jazzy style that is unparalleled. Even over the past few years when they've departed from a strict "jazz" persona, their book has all the trademark sounds of a BD hornline. SCV...fullness, richness, a sound all of their own. Powerful when needed and then soft and subtle the next measure. Simply beautiful. Madison...I've traditionally loved them for their power and in your face style with very few years as exceptions. We'll see if the new crew can get that up to the Madison standard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanguard07 Posted December 2, 2006 Share Posted December 2, 2006 (edited) Key's Music has a special place in my heart... However they all have amazing arrangers (Brass & Percussion) Edited December 2, 2006 by Vanguard07 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcf06 Posted December 2, 2006 Share Posted December 2, 2006 Colts! Chris Tomsa = amazing guy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just A Plain Old Fan Posted December 2, 2006 Share Posted December 2, 2006 Surprisingly, I'll go with Phantom. :P The blending of An American in Paris and Rhapsody in Blue in 2005, for example, was absolutely masterful work. JD is a terrific arranger. If you're in the holiday mood, check out http://www.bostonbrass.com/stankenton.html Unfortunately, JD's sweet arrangment of Greensleeves isn't one of the samples, but it is incredible! And the horns are RIDICulous. (not a shameless plug...I'm a fan, and just heard the album) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dciguy01 Posted December 2, 2006 Share Posted December 2, 2006 Yeah Tomsa's been a great addition to the Colts brass staff. He and Chuck Naffier are up there as the best arrangers the corps has ever had. Too early to measure him against Naffier, IMO. Chuck seemed to write different styles of music in the 90's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCIbrassplaya Posted December 2, 2006 Share Posted December 2, 2006 (edited) JayBocock, Wany Downey, Key Poulan, J.D Shaw, Dick Saucedo I'm surprsed no one has mentioned Michael Klesch as far as brass arrangers go. Edited December 2, 2006 by DCIbrassplaya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpookyKid Posted December 2, 2006 Share Posted December 2, 2006 I'll go with Regiment. As for Jim Wren, enough said. He is an amazing talent. As for J.D.Shaw, my late wife went to high school with him and both her and I marched in drum corps with him (her in Sky and me in Regiment). He could be pretty laid back and a bit of a comedian. But when it came to music, he would just suddenly develop this atmosphere of intensity. Whenever we would pull into a school during the day and Mr St. Angel would give the corps downtime, he would be along with me and a handful of people that would get their instruments out, go somewhere and practice. If he wasn't practicing he was writing music. He always seemed to know how to lock in music just the right way. It doesn't surprise me that his music books are some of the most liked in drum corps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orpheus Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 Last summer, I thought it just might have been Carolina Crown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkyRyder_FMM Posted December 5, 2006 Share Posted December 5, 2006 Among the list, and considering recent history, I gotta go with JD Shaw at Phantom Regiment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hrothgar15 Posted December 5, 2006 Share Posted December 5, 2006 Wow...totally forgot to mention Michael Klesch. He's at Crown now and was at Cadets from 1987 to...when? Was it 1992? Either way, he's arranged some of the best shows to hit the field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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