The Mike Westbrook Concert Band "Marching Song" 1969 - Vol. 2

...Instead, it might be interpreted as reflecting the varying shades of war, from the exuberance of patriotic pride and preparation many nations feel upon entering armed conflict ("Hooray!") to the aimless confusion plenty of soldiers and civilians feel as things get bogged down ("Other World")...
...While more often than not the compositions and ensemble playing are on the avant-garde side, at times they burst into rather buoyant progressive big-band arrangements (the title track), even if that quickly succumbs to the tenser and most disquieting sides of its undercurrents. Not all of the pieces are that challenging; the piano-dominated "Landscape" has a serenity that would appeal to any Bill Evans fan, for instance, while "Waltz (For Joanna)," undoubtedly the LP's highlight, matches extremely Coltrane-ish interplay from the lead instruments with more swing-oriented backup than classic-era Coltrane was wont to employ. Westbrook and his band certainly went into edgier, more confrontational moods on Marching Song, Vol. 2, however, one reason that sequel has to be heard to judge all of this album's tracks in their most appropriate context. - Review by Richie Unterberger
trax:
01 Transition 02 Home 03 Rosie 04 Prelude 05 Tension 06 Introduction 07 Ballad 08 Conflict 09 Requiem 10 Tarnished 11 Memorial

This music is dedicated to the tradition of Johnny Diego's Rock 'n' Roll Free Sunday!