Jeff Wilt here. A friend if mine sent me a link to this vid. Thank you very very much for including me in this list. I am honored to know that something I did so many years ago is still remembered and I am humbled to share a spot on a list of soloists who I am also a big fan of. The Autumn leaves solo was a blast to play, but if you can find it, check out the '89 show. I played a solo in Sing, Sing, Sing that has always been my favorite. Once again, thank you so very much!!!
Mainly because I am a 70's Madison Scout myself. Metzger for 5 straight years was money in the bank, he always brought his best game to the big shows. As good as Chris was back then, I don't think there was anyone even in Brady's ballpark in 77 and 78. He was jaw dropping good.
Nice that you assembled this collection. Sat in awe of Brady during those years. Sadly, not surprised at the number of people who felt the need to insult/criticize what YOU like.
I would like to add something to "Tommy" 1990 blue devils. That is not Larry Shane, his name is Shawn Whittaker and I know that because that's my dad. He still has his pictures and ring from that year. He played from 1990 to 1994
Personally, if I had to pick my top 10 solos fo all time, they would probably all be Jeff Kievet, Jim Brady, and Chris Metzger (Scouts 72-77). It's an honor to have made the list, but let's give credit where it is due. Thanks, Hunter Moss
There are two types of soloists in drum corps, those that sounded good for the idiom considering the circumstances (inferior instrument, done while marching in an outdoor venue) and those who sounded good for any comparison. Nowadays with amplification and controlled circumstances there are some pretty darn good solos being played but the guys that really stand out for me were Metzger (Scouts) and Brady (Bridgemen).
@livingin3g Jeff I was a 13 yr old marching in St Francis Sancians when I heard you for my first year...has stuck with me forever...I ended up marching with North Star in 1980 and then did the infamous show with the 1994 27th Lancers Alumni..I was taught and marched with Gerry Noonan of North Star...he is the only one who comes even remotely close to you!
Richard Labrizzi and I were in All-County Jazz Band together in the late 1970s. He was a fantastic player and it was fun to be in DCI in separate corps in 1983 (I was in Suncoast). Sadly he passed away a few years ago. RIP, Richard.
Wow .... incredible performance Talent and top-of-the-Tier skill demonstrated by each of these Solists. I marched '65 thru '78 starting with MK Charlestown and aging out with 27th. My opinion is J. Kievit of Hawthorne '74 tops the list; agree that Jerry Noonan with Northstar belongs in this discussion too.
Greg 'Harpo' Blum seems to have been left off everyone's list. That is unfortunate. He was a great player and also a class act who loved the Colts. He could have played lead anywhere, but stayed in Iowa. I always respected that.
The Duane one (Latin Implosion") had a chance to be mine that year. Up until sometime after DAtR, it was a duet (which is why Tim Morning is standing back to back with Duane on the vid). Early season, Wayne held auditions for the duet. I tried out and made the first cut, but lost to Duane and Tim. Duane definitely played it better than I would have...he had much better range than I ever did,
Very kind of you to list Jeff. I marched with him as a young 13 year-old lad at Westshore before he went to the Coats. Good memories, and a good guy with a good heart. 8)
Harpo, from the Colts circa 1980 performing Summerime from Porgy and Bess Also, do a search on CZcams for Dr Stephen Hawk. He played for the Crusaders of County LaSalle/Ottawa Crusaders in the 1970's. He was our lead soloist
Hunter moss from spirit of Atlanta.... When I toured in 03 wit spirit he told me I had a great sound playing when I would practice on my euphonium and I was flattered ..cause the power he had 20 years after this clip in 2003 was even better ,. He had chops that few sopranos ever achieve..
Nice List Ben and all great soloists. Just to make sure credit is given where credit due, the '87 Spirit duet at the beginning you show is definitely Mike and Jon, both great players and good guys. You let the clip run into a second duet however that was played by Lee McGraw and Rich Edwards, two other lead players with Spirit that year. Thanks for the memories of some great drum corps moments.
First of all, I marched with the guy for three year's and his brother Dave ,who buy the way always was being filmed and was a great player himself. I was the youngest little snare players and the end who played in 77,78,n 80. I'm sorry to say this but, the only soprano player who even came close to Jim was ZJeff from Hawthorne. His lip and precise playing always had the crowd going wild. Playing behind Jim Brady and watching him cinlme out and play 20-25 second Solo's with a tip and such a confident player is and always will be There best soprano player in drum corps history. Give me one shoe with one of these other cats and show me is 25 minutes if playing. In 77 his show was s dream and we we're The winning corps that year but the disqualifiecatian because of a OVERAGED person at preleims put s halt to one of the most entertaining shows in history. 78 was even more powerful, but D.C.I.judges had the heads up somebody's baritone. Watch us in 77, Really, with some quality headphones please. Listen to how clean and how high Jim was hitting notes. Then listen to that ass kicking drumline and The whole 78. Honestly when I hear the last song and remember that day in Colorado when Bobby Hoffman said pull it in for a second guys huh. And gave us the news, I can still see every face dropping and tear's dropping from girl to guy in total disbelief and disgust that it gives me tears as I am writing this 39 years later and back then at 14 years old being in a daze brings me to this. Jim. No 1. Everybody who's passed from that year, and to one if the most talented way ahead of his time coolest cats I ever met. Bobby Hoffman. R.I.P. I know up there, Bobby has that 77 flag that was black and Gold oddly that year and he was also handed a trophy for the first place Bridgemen Drum and Bugles Corps of Bayonne,N.J. 1977. Love and miss all of you guys and girls. It was as real as it can get in my three years as one of the best and fastest snareplayers of all time from age 14, 15, and 17 in 80. That is also a known fact. I appreciate the blessings of hands like that which are still ripping superfastflam's and flamadiddles. But Jim by far who came from the Saints from Edison, N.J. with brother Dave and sister Susan we're in a corps that spread like wild fire because of all the HYPE surrounding the talent of Hoffman and Delucia and all the other kids that marched stunned D.C.I. and that's why we ended that year on 33rdvi believe back a couple tenths from winning. Thanks and keep on keeping on the B_,men forever. Damian☝️💛🖤
Hey...:) Nice to see Jeff Wilt from the Blue Coats. He and I are from the same area and marched together in the Sr corps The Keystoners. From there I think he went to the Westshoremen before the Bluecoats, and I went to the Marine D&B.
Great list, and thanks for putting the vid together for us! I know others have complained about a solo missing here or there (I'd have loved to see something from the '80 Devs or '88 Scouts myself) but that's just evidence that there were more than 10 great, memorable solos in DCI history.
How in Gods name can you leave out Chris Metzger from the 74-75-76 Madison Scouts? He has the most beautiful tone for a bugle and an incredible range. Listen to 1975 Madison Macarthur Park. Then change your Top Ten.
Thanks for this compilation! I too love Jim Brady's 1978 Harlem Nocturne, plus his 1977 work in Pagliacci. Gerry Mr. Noonan's great solos in Olé in 1978, '79, and '80 (with '78 being the best of the three) stand out for me as he really carried the corps for sustained periods. As for overall technical quality, how do you top Jeff Kievet's playing? All great.
Nice job on the video. Not to nit-pick but to give props where props are due. The 84 Blue Devil soloist for Latin Implosion is Duane Shimmel. Steve (aka Stymie) was the soloist in La Fiesta.
Not that it is a solo, but coolest backfield warm up I ever saw was an exhibition at a show in NJ (either Garfield or Bridgemen sponsored in Cranberry, long before the Meadowlands) probably 1981 or 82. A Corps from England, the Birmingham Knights. Awesome warm up to opener of Hail Britannia. They high step marched, and had elegant dark blue traditional uniforms. Never forgot how much I loved that corps that night. And a close runner up has to be VK doing "Jaws" warm up, fin moves through grass !
I don't disagree with any of your choices. I'd add a couple of the list could be extended. Larry Dastrup for BD 1980 & 1981 You Gotta Try and Gingi. 1980's Pegasus solo. By the way, although Steve "Stymie" Lenane was one my closest friends at the time, Duane Shimmel (equally close friend) was the soloist for Latin Implosion. Thanks for posting. I love it!! John "Johnny" Steaveson SVC 2nd Bari 1979, Lead Soprano 1981 Blue Devil 4th Soprano 1983, Lead Soprano 1984, French Horn 1985
RIP, Rich Librizzi....just found out from a friend on Facebook (today, 7-9-12) who marched with him that he passed away. We lost VK DM Mark Kopang at the end of June.....too young....far far too young.
Maybe others have said this, but without '82 "Pegasus", it's just incomplete. I wanted to like this... I really did. I was all set to say, "Great idea. Great job!" thinking it would be the last one. But, alas...
83 Scouts - Strawberry Soup - my all time favorite !!! 75 Muchachos ( I think the song was Maryann?) And 81 Scouts - Malaguena ! Your list is pretty good too!
@YEP321S THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!! That was my one and only year in BD (in Jr Corps, for that matter), and it always ticks me off that we get no love from the org....nada.
Ben....is there a reason the 84 BD solo is incorrect again? I remember it had been changed and corrected before. The picture is Steve Lenane during La Fiesta. Duane Schimmel was the soloist for Latin Implosion (which is the audio in the clip)
Hey Ben, in the very beginning when you play "The Lip" where can I find that version of the song? I can only find the version when Keely Smith sings. Not when Louis Prima sings.
@tonyknerr If you had bothered to read the title of the video you would have seen that it's called "Ben's Top 10 Favorite Soprano Solos," not "best soprano solo list." Thanks though.
As a drummer who's been around drum corps for almost 40 years of course I'm impressed by the pitch achieved (knowing how hard my friends have worked to try to get there). But to me it would seem the rhythmic/tongue acrobatics are more the thing that makes a good soprano solo. What do you horn players appreciate the most in the solos you like the most?
All of these are great soloists, but I agree with poster(s) here that said that leaving Jerry Noonan , sop soloist, from the North Star Drum Corps ( '79-80 ) years off this list would be like leaving Ted Williams or Stan Musial off the best baseball hitters list of all time.
87 SOA... Soul Train's name is spelled Jon. The second group of solos/duets was Lee "Quick Draw" McGraw, then Mike and Richard. I'm sorry I don't remember Richard's last name. He came aboard on the break between first and second tour.
How about one of the guys from the '88 devils line? Don't know his name but the guy that also did the Harlem Nocturn solo in '87. He was pretty smooth... I had the priviledge of marching with Jon Schipper. And he is extremely loud. * *Loud = good :0)
Al Chez?! Where is Al and the '82 Cadets screamer opener? Come on! The two most important notes every played DCI history! And not like he was all about the high notes either, the man is a soprano & trumpet virtuoso as 15 years of t.v. appearances and tours with the Stones, Bowie, Maynard Clapton, Sandoval & Bonjovi kind of prove. CHEZ FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! CHEZ!
At 5:40, Larry Shane...... what piece is that? I feel like it's on the tip of my tongue. By the way, the soprano trill in "My Spanish Heart" Blue Devils '96 is pretty cool.
Jeff Wilt here. A friend if mine sent me a link to this vid. Thank you very very much for including me in this list. I am honored to know that something I did so many years ago is still remembered and I am humbled to share a spot on a list of soloists who I am also a big fan of. The Autumn leaves solo was a blast to play, but if you can find it, check out the '89 show. I played a solo in Sing, Sing, Sing that has always been my favorite. Once again, thank you so very much!!!
Mainly because I am a 70's Madison Scout myself. Metzger for 5 straight years was money in the bank, he always brought his best game to the big shows. As good as Chris was back then, I don't think there was anyone even in Brady's ballpark in 77 and 78. He was jaw dropping good.
God, the soprano tone is so much thicker than the trumpet.
even a drummer like me misses that sop timbre
1979 North Star - Jerry Noonan. Should be on every top ten sop solo list.
Rogers Dynasonic I totally agree!!!
Marched 90 with Larry. Guy was a stud and that finals solo was every bit the emotion and story of my year marching my rookie year with BD.
I agree the guy from Madison 75 should be on the list, still good work,
My favorite would have to be Jim Brady rocking it out with the Bridgemen. Never got tired of hearing that.
Seen him do it live more than once. Never got tired of hearing that either. Hell of a player !!
@@highatruthart the ending of that show is the best screamer I have ever heard
0:15 ... video over. Jeff Kievet's solo was one of the most bad ass solos from a time when DCI was about entertainment.
Nice that you assembled this collection. Sat in awe of Brady during those years.
Sadly, not surprised at the number of people who felt the need to insult/criticize what YOU like.
I would’ve put 75 madison scouts macarthur park on there
I would like to add something to "Tommy" 1990 blue devils. That is not Larry Shane, his name is Shawn Whittaker and I know that because that's my dad. He still has his pictures and ring from that year. He played from 1990 to 1994
It is telling that all of these are pre-2000.
Hence the title. Top SOPRANO solos. They use trumpets, now.
@@Tinkerbellpiximama Right! I'm a stupid percussionist
No such thing, Tim!
@@timwhite619 ur not stupid
Jeff Kievit of Muchachos starts it off! Then the Bridgemen! What a great tribute to these guys and Corps!
Personally, if I had to pick my top 10 solos fo all time, they would probably all be Jeff Kievet, Jim Brady, and Chris Metzger (Scouts 72-77). It's an honor to have made the list, but let's give credit where it is due. Thanks, Hunter Moss
So Humble !!!
Finally found someone else who loves the Tommy solo as much as I do
Best solo ever!
There are two types of soloists in drum corps, those that sounded good for the idiom considering the circumstances (inferior instrument, done while marching in an outdoor venue) and those who sounded good for any comparison. Nowadays with amplification and controlled circumstances there are some pretty darn good solos being played but the guys that really stand out for me were Metzger (Scouts) and Brady (Bridgemen).
@livingin3g
Jeff I was a 13 yr old marching in St Francis Sancians when I heard you for my first year...has stuck with me forever...I ended up marching with North Star in 1980 and then did the infamous show with the 1994 27th Lancers Alumni..I was taught and marched with Gerry Noonan of North Star...he is the only one who comes even remotely close to you!
This is a great list, I recommend listening to 1978 North Star, one of my personal favorites
So much yes
When power as well as chops meant something!! No need to amplify........btw Jeff Kievit all day, everyday!! I wore that vinyl out.
We had triple tonguing on g bugles.... no match
Richard Labrizzi and I were in All-County Jazz Band together in the late 1970s. He was a fantastic player and it was fun to be in DCI in separate corps in 1983 (I was in Suncoast). Sadly he passed away a few years ago. RIP, Richard.
Jack Rowland Rich and I marched together in Scouts. But (like so many of the other guys I marched with) I’ve totally lost track of Rich.
Great guy.
What a great video! These guys were my heroes back in the day. It was so amazing watching these guys live. I still get goose bumps 30 years later...
Glad these are actual SOPRANO solos, and NOT trumpet solos!!!
YOU BET. I WOULD RATHER PLAY SOPRANO BUGLE IN A DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS THAN TRUMPET IN A DRUM AND BAND CORPS.
Rich Librizzi (1983 Madison Scouts) passed this week. Great talent and a great person. I will miss him.
Me too Shaun. We first met in All-County Jazz Band in 1979. Super nice guy and a fantastic player.
I went to High School with Rich. He was a great guy and awesome friend. He is missed.
I marched Spirit in 1995 and SCV's soloist was pretty amazing.. hitting a trip C in the backfield.. Wasn't a big fan of that show but loved that solo.
Wow .... incredible performance Talent and top-of-the-Tier skill demonstrated by each of these Solists. I marched '65 thru '78 starting with MK Charlestown and aging out with 27th. My opinion is J. Kievit of Hawthorne '74 tops the list; agree that Jerry Noonan with Northstar belongs in this discussion too.
YES! 1990 Larry Shane, one of my favorites of all time!
Greg 'Harpo' Blum seems to have been left off everyone's list. That is unfortunate. He was a great player and also a class act who loved the Colts. He could have played lead anywhere, but stayed in Iowa. I always respected that.
The 1984 Hunter Moss Solo is my all time favorite.The 1984 Blue Devils Duane Shimmel would be my second favorite.
The Duane one (Latin Implosion") had a chance to be mine that year. Up until sometime after DAtR, it was a duet (which is why Tim Morning is standing back to back with Duane on the vid). Early season, Wayne held auditions for the duet. I tried out and made the first cut, but lost to Duane and Tim.
Duane definitely played it better than I would have...he had much better range than I ever did,
Hunter is badass.
1990 Bluedevils soprano was SOOOO clean
I have to mention that Larry Dastrup's solo in "Ya Gotta Try" is in my opinion the greatest solo of all time (Blue Devils 1980)
Oh, yeah! Love that one, my fav is still Larry Shane's 1990 tommy's solo. But marching BD' 86 was so badass, im still kinda jealous 😁👍
Very kind of you to list Jeff. I marched with him as a young 13 year-old lad at Westshore before he went to the Coats. Good memories, and a good guy with a good heart. 8)
I had the good fortune to have Mike Collins as our brass instructor in high school in 87, what an amazing horn player and an awsome brass instructor.
Harpo, from the Colts circa 1980 performing Summerime from Porgy and Bess
Also, do a search on CZcams for Dr Stephen Hawk. He played for the Crusaders of County LaSalle/Ottawa Crusaders in the 1970's. He was our lead soloist
Went to Western Illinois in the mid 80's with Stephen Hawk. He was incredible.
Hunter moss from spirit of Atlanta.... When I toured in 03 wit spirit he told me I had a great sound playing when I would practice on my euphonium and I was flattered ..cause the power he had 20 years after this clip in 2003 was even better ,. He had chops that few sopranos ever achieve..
Metzger in 75, Brady in 78, Jerry Noonan (78 North Star)
Nice List Ben and all great soloists. Just to make sure credit is given where credit due, the '87 Spirit duet at the beginning you show is definitely Mike and Jon, both great players and good guys. You let the clip run into a second duet however that was played by Lee McGraw and Rich Edwards, two other lead players with Spirit that year. Thanks for the memories of some great drum corps moments.
I was at the 1984 championships I heard alot of these live . Simply amazing !
First of all, I marched with the guy for three year's and his brother Dave ,who buy the way always was being filmed and was a great player himself. I was the youngest little snare players and the end who played in 77,78,n 80. I'm sorry to say this but, the only soprano player who even came close to Jim was ZJeff from Hawthorne. His lip and precise playing always had the crowd going wild. Playing behind Jim Brady and watching him cinlme out and play 20-25 second Solo's with a tip and such a confident player is and always will be There best soprano player in drum corps history. Give me one shoe with one of these other cats and show me is 25 minutes if playing. In 77 his show was s dream and we we're The winning corps that year but the disqualifiecatian because of a OVERAGED person at preleims put s halt to one of the most entertaining shows in history. 78 was even more powerful, but D.C.I.judges had the heads up somebody's baritone. Watch us in 77, Really, with some quality headphones please. Listen to how clean and how high Jim was hitting notes. Then listen to that ass kicking drumline and The whole 78. Honestly when I hear the last song and remember that day in Colorado when Bobby Hoffman said pull it in for a second guys huh. And gave us the news, I can still see every face dropping and tear's dropping from girl to guy in total disbelief and disgust that it gives me tears as I am writing this 39 years later and back then at 14 years old being in a daze brings me to this. Jim. No 1. Everybody who's passed from that year, and to one if the most talented way ahead of his time coolest cats I ever met. Bobby Hoffman. R.I.P. I know up there, Bobby has that 77 flag that was black and Gold oddly that year and he was also handed a trophy for the first place Bridgemen Drum and Bugles Corps of Bayonne,N.J. 1977. Love and miss all of you guys and girls. It was as real as it can get in my three years as one of the best and fastest snareplayers of all time from age 14, 15, and 17 in 80. That is also a known fact. I appreciate the blessings of hands like that which are still ripping superfastflam's and flamadiddles. But Jim by far who came from the Saints from Edison, N.J. with brother Dave and sister Susan we're in a corps that spread like wild fire because of all the HYPE surrounding the talent of Hoffman and Delucia and all the other kids that marched stunned D.C.I. and that's why we ended that year on 33rdvi believe back a couple tenths from winning. Thanks and keep on keeping on the B_,men forever. Damian☝️💛🖤
Sorry for the misspelled words. I'm in a rush. ☮️
Madison Scouts 1996 is soooooooo Awesome!!!!!
Hey...:) Nice to see Jeff Wilt from the Blue Coats. He and I are from the same area and marched together in the Sr corps The Keystoners. From there I think he went to the Westshoremen before the Bluecoats, and I went to the Marine D&B.
Not one soloist is miked up, go figure!!
Great list, and thanks for putting the vid together for us! I know others have complained about a solo missing here or there (I'd have loved to see something from the '80 Devs or '88 Scouts myself) but that's just evidence that there were more than 10 great, memorable solos in DCI history.
86 Blue Devils..................my personal favorite!
How in Gods name can you leave out Chris Metzger from the 74-75-76 Madison Scouts? He has the most beautiful tone for a bugle and an incredible range. Listen to 1975 Madison Macarthur Park. Then change your Top Ten.
Thanks for this compilation! I too love Jim Brady's 1978 Harlem Nocturne, plus his 1977 work in Pagliacci. Gerry Mr. Noonan's great solos in Olé in 1978, '79, and '80 (with '78 being the best of the three) stand out for me as he really carried the corps for sustained periods. As for overall technical quality, how do you top Jeff Kievet's playing? All great.
Nice job on the video. Not to nit-pick but to give props where props are due. The 84 Blue Devil soloist for Latin Implosion is Duane Shimmel. Steve (aka Stymie) was the soloist in La Fiesta.
YOU seriously didn't include Jerry Noonan from NORTH STAR '79, He's in DCI HALL OF FAME....WOW
Not that it is a solo, but coolest backfield warm up I ever saw was an exhibition at a show in NJ (either Garfield or Bridgemen sponsored in Cranberry, long before the Meadowlands) probably 1981 or 82. A Corps from England, the Birmingham Knights. Awesome warm up to opener of Hail Britannia. They high step marched, and had elegant dark blue traditional uniforms. Never forgot how much I loved that corps that night. And a close runner up has to be VK doing "Jaws" warm up, fin moves through grass !
Shaun Owens is a great guy.
@reeldeelpeel Yes they were. Shaun Owens had some awesome solo work in 82, 83 and 84.
I don't disagree with any of your choices. I'd add a couple of the list could be extended. Larry Dastrup for BD 1980 & 1981 You Gotta Try and Gingi. 1980's Pegasus solo.
By the way, although Steve "Stymie" Lenane was one my closest friends at the time, Duane Shimmel (equally close friend) was the soloist for Latin Implosion.
Thanks for posting. I love it!!
John "Johnny" Steaveson
SVC 2nd Bari 1979, Lead Soprano 1981
Blue Devil 4th Soprano 1983, Lead Soprano 1984, French Horn 1985
Is it me, or do some of the people in those pictures look over 21?
Soul Train was an inspiring guy to march with. A picture of perseverance. And the soloist at 4:55 is Lee "Quick Draw" McGraw.
RIP, Rich Librizzi....just found out from a friend on Facebook (today, 7-9-12) who marched with him that he passed away. We lost VK DM Mark Kopang at the end of June.....too young....far far too young.
Maybe others have said this, but without '82 "Pegasus", it's just incomplete. I wanted to like this... I really did. I was all set to say, "Great idea. Great job!" thinking it would be the last one. But, alas...
My favorites are wrong because they don't match up with yours?
oooooh shiet
'74 Muchachos were fucking great btw
Seriously! He said HIS favorites. He didn’t claim it was the “objective best”......
Everyone has their own favorites.
Rock star
I saw 1996 finals in Orlando that Jon Schipperke solos was amazing live
very great selection
Holy Goosebumps..
83 Scouts - Strawberry Soup - my all time favorite !!! 75 Muchachos ( I think the song was Maryann?) And 81 Scouts - Malaguena ! Your list is pretty good too!
@YEP321S THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!! That was my one and only year in BD (in Jr Corps, for that matter), and it always ticks me off that we get no love from the org....nada.
'89 PR solo was fantastic
Thanks for sharing this!
and btw..... 1996 Madison, still one of the BADDEST shows EVVVARRRRR!!!!!!!
Ben....is there a reason the 84 BD solo is incorrect again? I remember it had been changed and corrected before.
The picture is Steve Lenane during La Fiesta. Duane Schimmel was the soloist for Latin Implosion (which is the audio in the clip)
sam signorelli I’m guessing CZcams changed the settings and made the notation disappear.
@@goldsmith1210 Ah yes...they removed the notation ability a couple of years back,
you don't have North Star as one of your soloist, one of the best in dci history!
I love and agree with your choices. I am amazed that you did not list anyone in this century.
yeah, there's quite a few good ones recently.
those wouldn't be sopranos
@TheHuntermoss Man, you sure how to work a crowd. 82, 83 and 84 were awesome!
Hey Ben, in the very beginning when you play "The Lip" where can I find that version of the song? I can only find the version when Keely Smith sings. Not when Louis Prima sings.
This version is from a Maynard Ferguson album. I can't remember the name of the album unfortunately.
I found it! It was on the "Maynard Ferguson & Big Bop Nouveau Brass Attitude" Album
Thanks!
01:30
Have mercy
I love how number nine was from Chuck Mangione's Land of Make Believe!!
wud of been kool if you had the acual clips of the solos, there are definately alot more solos from the 70s.. kool post
@tonyknerr If you had bothered to read the title of the video you would have seen that it's called "Ben's Top 10 Favorite Soprano Solos," not "best soprano solo list." Thanks though.
As a drummer who's been around drum corps for almost 40 years of course I'm impressed by the pitch achieved (knowing how hard my friends have worked to try to get there). But to me it would seem the rhythmic/tongue acrobatics are more the thing that makes a good soprano solo. What do you horn players appreciate the most in the solos you like the most?
@TheHuntermoss Hunter...any top sop soloist list that does not include you is pointless...you are legend!
The Mike Collins solo in 86 Devs is the closest thing to perfection I have ever heard. And I say that as a contra player.
@livingin3g Jeff, your solo is iconic. It fit into Autumn Leaves so perfectly.
Nice to see the "Latin Implosion" solo listed here. 84 BD doesn't get the love it deserves. Good corps- just got ran over by the Garfield Juggernaut.
Got myself a 3 valved dynasty, should see if i can play these
CHRIST, did Jim Brady EVER mess up?
N O
All of these are great soloists, but I agree with poster(s) here that said that leaving Jerry Noonan , sop soloist, from the North Star Drum Corps ( '79-80 ) years off this list would be like leaving Ted Williams or Stan Musial off the best baseball hitters list of all time.
@truc728 These are my personal favorites that stick out in my mind. That one is great, but doesn't stick out.
Marching 2005 in Fever, I always wondered how those East Coast Jazz kids could scream better than most div 1 corps.
That first solo was on an old Valve/Rotor bugle no less!
Nice
I agree, Noonan was awesome, should have been on the list, Maynard Ferguson thought he was awesome in 79 as well
87 SOA... Soul Train's name is spelled Jon. The second group of solos/duets was Lee "Quick Draw" McGraw, then Mike and Richard. I'm sorry I don't remember Richard's last name. He came aboard on the break between first and second tour.
I think Rich Edwards was in the second group of soloists. We were at ECU together.
1983 Madison Scouts were pretty amazing!
How about one of the guys from the '88 devils line? Don't know his name but the guy that also did the Harlem Nocturn solo in '87. He was pretty smooth...
I had the priviledge of marching with Jon Schipper. And he is extremely loud. *
*Loud = good :0)
Someone apparently missed 1983 Suncoast Aquarius.
Hunter Moss.... Nuff Said!!!!!!
Al Chez?! Where is Al and the '82 Cadets screamer opener? Come on! The two most important notes every played DCI history! And not like he was all about the high notes either, the man is a soprano & trumpet virtuoso as 15 years of t.v. appearances and tours with the Stones, Bowie, Maynard Clapton, Sandoval & Bonjovi kind of prove. CHEZ FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! CHEZ!
Hunter..... Squeelam..... Soul Train..... THE ATLANTA TRIFECTA!!!!!!
do you have a sound file of the whole 77 bridgemen show?
and 83 madison scouts strawberry soup is awesome haha
@MrDrizzle16 "The Lip" by Maynard Ferguson.
Spirit has the best solos....
wow....
At 5:40, Larry Shane...... what piece is that? I feel like it's on the tip of my tongue. By the way, the soprano trill in "My Spanish Heart" Blue Devils '96 is pretty cool.
cory silva it's from their Tommy show
Yes
Kent Scott, Peter Bond, Tommy Meredith, Noonan,....yeah, you missed a few.
HotWingSauce Actually, I didn't. These are my favorites, not yours.