BIG BAND

Well,... make that VERY BIG BIG Band rather...


I went to see last night's rehearsal of the JD's Big Band, originally consisting of Alumni Jubal members, but now - 20 years after their formation - with quite a few added faces from outside the corps.

They're HUGE !
9 saxophones, 9 trombones, 10 trumpets, 1 drummer, 1 string bass, 1 bass guitar, 1 guitar, 1 keyboard and 1 conductor.


I still remember their debuting performance 20 years ago at our annual corps' New Year's Eve concert evening. They sucked,... BIG TIME. Ok,... they hadn't had that much rehearsal time
But things have definitiely changed since that night.

Today they're great!

We'll be giving a joint-concert on Saturday on the occasion of "Koninginnedag" - celebrating our Queen's birthday - in front of City Hall.

100 YEARS LA VAILLANTE

We thought our drum & bugle corps (Jubal) was old,.. but Showband La Vaillante from St. Quentin (France) beat us by five years. They’re celebrating their 100th Anniversary in grand style this summer.

Major event is the evening exhibition show on Saturday June 24 with The Glassmen drum & bugle corps from Toledo Ohio as the cream on the cake!!

In addition to our American friends and the celebrating La Vaillante Showband, the event will also include the very best of the Dutch drumcorps and showbands/corps
Jubal drum Dordrecht
Irene from Ede
Pasveerkorps from Leeuwarden
Advendo from Sneek
DVS from Katwijk

From the USA the US Air Force Band
and the Bagad de Lann Bihou (France)

This will be one of the very best events on the continent this year !
La Vaillante has made a lot of friends with numerous bands and corps in Europe over the years, and quite a number of these top-units will be present to play a role in the anniversary events.

After a parade the following afternoon a second similar exhibition show will be held the on Sunday (5PM), also at the Philippe Roth Stadium.
Jong Holland from Zwijndrecht will take DVS’ place in the programme.

The US Air Force Band will perform in a special concert on Friday evening June 23 at the St. Quentin.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LA VAILLANTE !

KIDS CLOWNS

Had a little Borsalino reunion in Auvelais (Belgium) the other day. Every Easter Monday there is a parade there. This year it was the 104th parade!
Especially enjoyed the kids dressed as clowns!

Unfortunately Borsalino drum & bugle corps (Belgium's first drum & bugle corps) folded in 1995. I used to teach them mid 1980's. Was great seeing some "old" faces again there!

Among the musical groups in the parade were three bands from France (all member units of Drum Corps France) : Showband USA de Lille, Creutzwald and my favourites from St. Quentin: La Vaillante.

Show- & Marchingband La Vaillante is in my opinion definitiely the leading band in France! Musically very strong, and in the streets as well as in concerts or shows a very entertaining unit!

UNIQUE DATE & TIME

Everyone set your watches next month.....

On Thursday May 4 - just shortly after 1AM,....

Time & date will be:
01:02:03 - 04-05-06

TESTICLE FESTIVAL

Yes it's true... It's a real festival. Visitors have a ball there!

Rock Creek Lodge just outside of Clinton, Montana throws the world’s largest testicle festival every fall attracting more than 15,000 fans annually to its five day event. Tossing around its motto, “I had a ball at the Testicle Festival,” the festival feeds over 2 ½ tons of bull balls to its many hungry revelers. Not only can you get a taste of these yummy delicious deep-fried bull’s testicles, but while you’re there, you’ll no doubt want to participate in the bull-chip throwing contest, the wet t-shirt or hairy chest competitions, and bull-shit bingo.


While you’re there you will enjoy live music, with as many as six different bands playing, and a copious flow of alcohol, especially Bull Snort Brew, made especially for the festival by Big Sky Brewing Company of Missoula, Montana.

FUNERAL HOME

Some comany names are too strange for words,... but some say exactly what it's all about...
Amigone Funeral Homes in (upstate) New York's Buffalo region... Yes,.. AMIGONE

AM I GONE ....? You bet!

DISNEYLAND

Disneyland Paris

Preparing for another 3-day excursion to Paris for school again. This annual excursion is always a great success among the kids. Last year we took a record number of kids on this trip: 126 !!

This year we're taking it a lot easier. We have 54 listed. Advantage is that we will be able to have everyone stay in the same hotel.

All the Paris higlights will be included: Eiffel Tower, Boat trip, Notre Dame, Louvre, Palais Royal, Champs Elyssées, La Défense, Invalides, Sacré Coeur/Montmartre... The hotel is only a three-minute walk from Sacré Coeur/Place du Tertre!

Easiest day for us teachers will be the second day: Disneyland Paris!
Always the kids' favourite! We will have pretty much the entire day for ourselves, and will see them back at the buses at night.

Looking forward to this trip every year. Paris is by far my favourite European city (which you might have noticed from some earlier posts).

LOST IN GRAMMAR ???

Coincidentally I discussed the use of adjectives in class today and especially the irregular ones....
This will be great to show the kids next week!

ONCE AGAIN YOUNGBLOOD BRASS BAND

Youngblood Brass Band at AB in Brussels - Belgium

Didn't want to miss them... YOUNGBLOOD BRASS BAND in Brussels last night...
In their final week of this year's first European Tour (Yes,.. they will be coming back August 7 !!!)

Last night's gig was part of a Hip Hop concert night at the AB in Belgium's capital with four or five bands. Didn't get to see too much of the others...

YOUNGBLOOD is an absolutely incredible and amazing bunch of musicians, jammed in a Mercedes Transporter van with all their instruments and touring for five weeks from Holland to Sweden, from England to France, from Germany to Switzerland... Must be fun! And only 2 free days in five weeks,... sounds like torture... haha.
To be honest... I'm jealous of their job!

YOUNGBLOOD played pretty much the same repertoire as when I saw them on March 8 in Tivoli in utrecht (NL),.. most pieces from their new album "Is this a Riot?", which was selling like crazy after the performance.

Had a nice chat with trumpet player Mike Boman, whom I had met at YBB performances before, and also with their drummer/singer David Skogen, who told me they had tried to work with Drum Corps International to do a few workshops and maybe a concert in Championships week. YBB's hometown is Madison !!

The band members have not too much affiliation with the drumcorps scene though.... YBB trombone player Matt used to march with Blue Devils (1999).
A few of them teach band kids, some of which have acquired spots in brass and percussion sections of various top DCI corps.

Youngblood Brass Band is some of the best brassy stuff you've ever heard, accompanied by amazing rhythmic drums and vocal poetry!

I'll be back for more in August !!