Customer Reviews

Blast: An Explosive Musical Celebration

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Blast! is Bill Cook's incredible effort to bring drum corps to the stage. Blast! originated as the Star Of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps, which competed from 1985 to 1993. Today, the show is a smaller, stage-friendly adaptation with the same energy as its large football-field predecessor.

While the music is wonderful and moving, you really need to see the performers to fully appreciate their work. The CD is a studio recording, while the video is a live recording of their premiere show in London.

The show is about 90 minutes long, and the CD leaves out a few of the more visual performances, including 'Battery Battle' (a drum soloist feature, and 'Tangerinamadige' (a digederoo feature). These pieces are especially intended for live performance.

Blast! is starting a Broadway run in April with touring performances planned. It is a striking production and should not be missed if you have the chance to see it live.

When Bill Cook and Jim Mason gave us the drum and bugle corps STAR OF INDIANA, the world of field music began to evolve very quickly. To those who complained that Bill Cook had "bought" a drum corps, I suggest you listen to and hopefully witness in person the magic that is 'blast'. If you had any doubts about the sincerity of this man, it comes through most on this outing. (If you still have any doubts about the sincerity of Bill Cook, go to West Baden!) Until recently, the pinnacle of success in Drum Corps, whether it be junior or senior corps has always been the coveted title of world champion, which Star of Indiana won in 1991. Since then they have blurred the boundries of what a drum corps is. Since leaving the DCI circuit in the dust, Star has toured with the Canadian Brass, given us pleasure with Brass Theatre, and now in an amazing package comes 'blast'. They have invented a new 'field' which is a grid on stage. They have reinvented themselves as well as drum corps as well as Brass Theatre. This IS theatre! This IS FUN!!!!! Okay, so you've heard about the visuals. You've heard about the sensational drumming. You've heard about the standing ovations in London. Now hear the score. Listen to this incredible brass blast. Jim Prime is the absolute KING of arranging brass music. Listen to the licks of the middle horns and just TRY to keep up!!! How about those tubas and the riveting lines they produce? Listen to this kid Ben emote through his soprano, flugle, cornet etc... wow!!! And while standing on a chair suspended in mid-air! I marched with the Hawthorne Caballeros drum and bugle corps for more years than I need to mention, so I am particularly fond of 'Malaguena' which was a perennial show stopper for us. This is far and away the best arrangement I have ever heard. The percussion is dead on for every number and will blow you away with thier precision. Who could imagine 'Bolero' and 'Land of Make Believe' in the same show? It works brilliantly. Buy this. I personally guarantee it. I'm serious. If you don't like it and can give me a sound reason as to why not, I'll buy it from you and distribute it among my friends!!

This recording probably set new standard for Marching band / brass and percussion instrumental music(since there are no others like it, you really can't compare it to anything else out there). The music selections were fantastic, range from jazz, broadway, to classical, with a little twist of marching and other percussions, unfortunately, some of the songs from the musical were not included with the CD (Pines of Rome, etc). Unlike live drum corps performance recordings, it did not reach full volume potential, and the tempo of the music can be some what slow for several songs(every body loves blues/malaguena), but it is a fresh of breath to listen to it in B flat instead of G. I saw them live in London back in December, you must see them yourself to appriciate the recording!! get it, and enjoy it.

I love drum and bugle corps so naturally I'm a little biased when it comes to Blast but I can't see how somebody would give it less than 5 stars. I saw the performance on PBS (public TV) and I bought the CD very soon after that.

It's a great CD to put in and listen to from start to finish. There is only one track that I don't like but I'm not going to specify it because I want to let everybody form their own opinion so you don't need a bad impression of it from me. The other thing is that the Battery Battle is on the video but isn't on the CD. I was disappointed in that.

Overall, this is an awesome recording and is well worth buying.

If you are a fan of marching band style music this is the CD for you. To truly appreciate the music you have to see the video of the performance that the CD gets its music from. It is some of the best Choreograph stage performance I have ever seen. It was like taking a field show putting it on a stage and taking it to the next level. Some of the more visually oriented pieces like drum battle are not on the CD. But the music that is on the CD is breath taking. The music its self consist of drums and brass music. Being a low brass player myself I was astounded at the talent of these musicians. The music its self is not original but Blast ads its own twist and really brings the music to life. If you are a fan of this type of music you should defiantly add Blast to your collection.

Blast! is an outstanding performance by the "drum corps formerly known as the Star of Indiana." If you're not familiar with Drum Corps, think of it as really competitive marching bands with just brass and percussion, plus a color guard (then visit www.dci.org). For the past few years, Star has taken their outstanding performances indoors in a "Brass Theater" show--"Blast!" literally blows those shows away, by performing in a more traditional musical theatre in London.

It's really something to hear how clean and exciting all of this music is, and the energy with which it's performed. "Bolero" and "Malaguena" are just extremely exciting to hear. Songs like "Loss" show off a more poignant side of the group. All in all, this is a great way to get introduced to the group.

It's too bad they didn't include the WHOLE show, like the percussion feature "Battery Battle." Definitely check out the video version, found at http://shop.pbs.org (where is it, Amazon?).

After getting tickets to the Boston engagement of blast!, I naturally went out and bought the CD. With a wonderful score and excellent performances, its hard not to like this show. After seeing the show last night, I was blown away. The soundtrack does no justice to actually seeing the show live. The audience gave standing ovations on more than one occasion, to Medea, Malaguena, and Lemon Techno. The CD is a great companion to the show, but you really don't get the full effect of seeing it live. They also leave out the percussion piece entitled "Battery Battle" which was a highlight of the show. Anyway, you should go out and buy the CD, the talented young performers (all of whom are under 30) give a great CD that will definitely have repeated listenings. This definetly ranks right up there with STOMP, RENT, FOOTLOOSE and the revival of CABARET for theater for todays generation. If you've seen any of the previously mentioned shows, I guarantee you will love blast! If the show ever comes to a place near you, go buy tickets, or at least buy the video online somewhere.

The above CD deserves a five star rating because of the exquisite musicianship that went into its production. Soundtrack to the Broadway show "Blast!"- a more refined version of an onstage half-time field show - the music gives an auditory peek at the award winning show.

The contributing musicians consist of elite marching and concert performers. Many of them are retired members of the Indiana Drum and Bugle Corp.

Well known composers such as Chuck Mangione provide instrumental pieces of carious styles. Jazz, hip-hop, and Latin tracks provide something that appeals to everyone.

The musicians give a flawless performance, putting emotion into every note. The copious supply of trumpet solos are particularly moving. Dynamics, accents, and style are accentuated to the point of perfection, complimented by first-rate sound editing. "Blast!" makes a wonderful addition to everyone's CD collection.

Unfortunately, I must disagree with all the reviewers who write, "If you're in marching band, you'll love this CD!" That is such limited praise that it almost insults the performers. Truth is, Blast! cuts across all lines of musicianship -- and nonmusicianship. I took my parents, my wife, and my 4-year old daughter (none of whom can toot a single note) to see the mini-version at Disney's California Adventure (Bolero, Land of Make Believe, Malaguena), and they were blown away.

When we got home, I rented the DVD, and my daughter was up and dancing around throughout most of it. She told me afterward that she wants "to play a horn like that." Later she confided that she wanted to learn to "play the drums like that," too. I suppose there is little praise that is higher than that. To inspire another to take up the art that you have just presented.

Get this CD. When the touring company comes to your town (or nearby), go see it. You and your nonmusician friends and family will not be disappointed.

I wish only that it contained more tracks. (Where is the drummers' duel etc?)

To have the whole experience you really need to see the DVD or VHS copy of Blast. The show is absolutely as visual as it is musical! In fact, that's exactly the reason it's been as successful as it is. Any other show can just play music onstage. But how many do it from the audience, while hanging in the air, or by literally running around each other while managing not to collide with the flags, sabers, or rifles that are being spun and tossed all over the stage? It's definitely taking drum corps to a whole new -- and more audience-friendly -- level. ....