[Dixielandjazz] The Best Damn Band

[Bill Gunter]

Speaking of college bands, Jim Beebe writ:

>    University of Southrn California.  He is talking about the University 
>band
>that plays for the football games.  This is a ghastly phenomenon
>peculiar to the the U.S.   200 college musicians who can't play anything
>blasting away in silly tributes and formations.

I don't know if it's still going on, but the Stanford band at one time back 
in the late 60s and early 70s decided they wanted no more of military style 
precision, drill and formations. They still played the traditional college 
songs but they wore casual garb and sort of strolled around the field in 
haphazard formation. Many individuals behaved as "individuals" and did silly 
and "far out" antics just to show they were rebels, above traditional lock 
step marching. I didn't particularly dig that stuff - too traditionally 
hidebound, I suppose.

But I do thoroughly enjoy traditional drum and bugle presentations and among 
my favorite forms of entertainment are the English Tattoos such as the 
Annual Edinburgh Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade. Military pipe band from all 
over the realm congregate to strut their stuff.

Respectfully submitted,

Bill "Hut - two - three - four" Gunter
jazzboard@hotmail.com

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