By: Jack Kopstein, World Military Bands
An Album for the Ages
FROM FIFE AND DRUM
Marine Band Recordings 1890-1988 (CD 73 Minutes-17 tracks)
This is an Album for the Ages and celebrates the 190th Anniversary of “The Presidents Own” United States Marine band under the direction of Colonel John R Bourgeois. From Fife and Drum really underscores the genesis of the Marine band as a recording entity. The title represents the lineage of the world renowned band which was founded on July 11th 1798. The band, which is America’s oldest musical organization, performs music on this recording, and has become synonymous with their record of achievement. The historical content is worth the price alone beginning with an introduction by music critic Paul Hume followed by the announcement of John Philip Sousa’s “Washington Post” march. This was a common practice back in 1890 when the march was recorded. The digital processing is absolutely superb, particularly in the first four cuts which include the afore mentioned “Washington Post,” “The Thunderer,” and the “Creanonian Polka,” a cornet solo which is classic band music of the nineteenth century.
The voice interlude following the cornet solo provides an excellent overview of the Marine band and their contribution to the heritage and culture as well as the ceremonial of the United States. There is a virtual array of great band music and transcriptions on the album, such as “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 14” by Franz Liszt and Franz Von Suppé’s “Overture Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna.” The turn of the century style is imitated with a cute little ragtime tune called “Crazy Bones,” originally recorded in 1914.
The band performs the “Marines Hymn” on The Dream Hour, an NBC radio programme which featured the band every week in music for “shut-ins.” In the major work on the recording, Colonel John R Bourgeois selected the brilliant work for band by Clare Grundman titled “Concord” in which we hear Revolutionary songs. The National Hymn of America, “God of Our Fathers,” is heard in a magnificent rendition. It is a 19th-century American Christian hymn, written to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence in 1876. The final cut on this magnificent album is the march “Washington Post,” which served to bring the Marine band full circle from their earliest recording of 1898 to 1988. The recording technique may have changed over the intervening years from 1898, but the one sustaining factor remains as the absolutely marvelous musicianship of the United States Marine band. The colour enclosure with the CD is highly informative giving an excellent background on the recording. Overall, this is an awesome collection by the United States Marine band that grows more amazing by each track. Anyone with a love of good solid band music would be wise to invest in this disc.
There is a wonderful review of The Legacy of Mary Lou Williams by the U.S. Army Field Band’s Jazz Ambassadors posted today on Audiophile Audition.
Mary Lou Williams was one of those musicians who overcame a variety of impediments in her early life to become one of America’s seminal composers and arrangers’. This disc reprises many her well-known compositions which are done with style and verve designed to reveal the meaning the composer intended.
While the song list is not necessarily in chronological order, it does lay out her writing and arranging starting with her earliest forays in the late 20s and early 30s. “Roll ‘Em”, “Messa Stomp” and Walkin’ and Swinging” are from that period and the band delivers accordingly in a boogie-woogie style with the rhythm section supporting the melodies with a typical 30s “chugga chugga” beat. Part of the challenge facing the Jazz Ambassadors is that they do not have a readily identifiable sound. But there are some first rate soloists such as pianist SFC Tim Young, who is clearly at the forefront on all three noted tunes.
“Scorpio” forms part of Williams well-known “Zodiac Suite” which foreshadowed some of her progressive musical ideas and here features guest artist Geri Allen on piano.” Blue Skies” was originally arranged for the Duke Ellington Orchestra in 1943 and this take showcases the lead trumpet of SFC Paul Stevens. In 1949 Williams penned the somewhat facetious “In The Land of Oo Bla Dee” for the Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra and on this rendition guest singer Andy Bey does the honors. Although this aggregation may not call themselves professional musicians, they clearly are up to dealing with demanding material with which they imbue energy and life. Listen to the tight harmonies on “Chunka Lunka” and the melodic line contained on “Tisherome”. The band continues to deliver in the same swinging fashion on the remainder of the disc with some especially interesting solo breaks by SFC Andrew Layton soprano sax on “Rosa Mae” and SFC Pat Shook clarinet on “Miss D.D.”.
This session is a continuation of a number of legacy outings that this group has done for the likes Hank Levy, Sammy Nestico, Stan Kenton and Benny Carter. This band can really play and the disc is deserving of support.
Track List: Roll ‘Em; Messa Stomp; Walkin’ and Swingin’; Scorpio; Blue Skies; Big Jim Blues; In The Land of Oo Bla Dee; Chunka Lunka; Tisherome; Knowledge; What’s Your Story Morning Glory; Rosa Mae; MissD.D.; Act of Contrition.
—Pierre Giroux
See the article here: http://audaud.com/2012/02/21551/