Coast to Coast (McDonald's Jazz Band album)

Coast to Coast is a 1984 album (LP Vinyl) released by McDonald's All-American High School Jazz Band under the direction of Bob Curnow. The group was formed in 1981 as a part of the McDonald's All-American High School Band program that had started back in the late 1960s to feature talented, up and coming high school musicians.[1]

Coast to Coast
Studio album by

The McDonald's All-American
High School Jazz Band 1983/1984
Released1984
RecordedRMS Recording Studio
Las Vegas, NV
GenreJazz, Big band, instrumental
Length40:05
LabelMcDonald's MDC 91884
ProducerRobert Curnow
cat. # MDC 91884

Background

As part of the 1983-84 McDonald's All-American High School Band,[2] the jazz band was formed (from within the larger group) to more specifically feature up and coming high school jazz musicians from all over the United States. The Coast to Coast LP was part of the overall program Bob Curnow and the McDonald's Corporation helped to achieve in 1983/84 with these high school student musicians. The LP stands out with the fact the group recorded with no overdubs at all and the solos going live to a 24 track board; this was all done in a 5-hour time span.[1] The level of student and performance is outstanding.[3] During the time in Las Vegas recording the LP the group also did a special appearance on the nationally televised Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon.[4] This was part of the yearly national appearances the ensemble would do on tour.[1][5] Several of the student musicians on the LP have become very prominent names on the music scene in the United States to include Greg Gisbert and Harry Allen.

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."I Got Rhythm (George Gershwin, arr. Rob McConnell)"4:06
2."A Time For Love (Johnny Mandel, arr. Hank Levy)"3:50
3."The Diver (Matt Harris)"6:10
4."Blue Chip (Sammy Nestico)"7:42
5."Scorpion Dance (Robert Curnow)"5:24
6."Body and Soul (Johnny Green, arr. Marty Paich)"6:04
7."The Flintstones Theme (William Hanna, Joseph Barbera, arr. Roger Pemberton)"5:24
8."McDonald's Theme Medley (arr. Robert Curnow)"5:43

Recording Sessions

Personnel

Musicians
  • Conductor: Robert Curnow
  • Saxophones: Terry Goss, Scott Ackerman, Harry Allen, Chris Conelius, Pete Giancola
  • Trumpets and flugelhorns: Barry Parr, John Bailey, Greg Gisbert, Mike Burnette, Doug James
  • Trombones: John DiLutis, Tom Riccobono, Jeff Knutson, Jeff Lindholm, Mark Rusch
  • Guitar: Hamp Brockman
  • Piano: Karen Mietz
  • Bass: Jeff Parker
  • Drums/Percussion: Joe Mansir
  • Drums/Percussion: Andy Wright

Production

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Cadence Magazinevery positive[6]
Los Angeles Timesvery positive[5]
ASBDA Journalvery positive[7]
Tom Lord jazz discography(listing), 2004[8]

"...out of those 105 musicians, 20 eventually become members of the All-American High School Jazz Band...(The LP) features the 1983-4 edition and it's quite impressive. The players certainly do not sound like teenagers and some of the soloists, particularly trumpeters John Bailey and Greg Gisbert stand out as musicians to watch in the future. The charts are particularly colorful..."

Cadence Magazine[6]

References
  1. Coast to Coast liner notes. McDonald's All-American High School Jazz Band LP, 1984, MDC 91884
  2. 1983-84 McDonald's All-American High School Band at the 1983 Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, Youtube
  3. Leonard Feather's liner notes on back of LP cover, Coast to Coast. McDonald's All-American High School Jazz Band LP, 1984, MDC 91884
  4. Example of the McDonald's All-American High School Jazz Band on the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon in 1985, Bob Curnow's Scorpion Dance from Coast to Coast LP, Youtube
  5. JAZZ REVIEW: ALL-AMERICANS PUT IT TOGETHER, The Los Angeles Times, Apr 17, 1984, Part VI, Page 1
  6. Cadence Magazine, Review by Bob Rusch. Jan 1, 1985 Volume 11, page 87
  7. ASBDA Journal, Volume 57, Ammark Pub. Co., 1987. page 30
  8. Tom Lord, The jazz discography: Volume 14, 2004
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