We're Back! (album)

We're Back![1] is a 1986 album (LP Vinyl) released by the California State University, Los Angeles Jazz Ensemble, it was the springboard for the Bob Curnow's arrangement of the Pat Metheny work The First Circle. The group proved to be one of the finest college jazz orchestras of that era with having placed in the finals of the Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival.[2] The jazz band had numerous student musicians that have made a name for themselves as professionals to include Sharon Hirata,[3] Luis Bonilla, Phil Feather, Jack Cooper, Charlie Richard, Eric "Bobo" Correa, Mark Gutierrez, Vince Dublino, and José Arellano.

We're Back!
Studio album by
California State University, Los Angeles
Jazz Ensemble
Released1986
RecordedSage and Sound Recording
Hollywood, California
GenreJazz, Big band, instrumental
Length40:05
LabelH D C Music Publications
ProducerDavid Caffey
California State University, Los Angeles
Jazz Ensemble chronology
The New In You
(1985)		 We're Back!
(1986)		 Diversions
(1987)
cat. # CSULA 886
Audio sample
"At Arm's Length"
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Background

In 1984 and 1985 the California State University, Los Angeles Music Department and CSULA Associated Students decided to fund LP recordings of the jazz ensemble to better serve as a teaching tool for student music, jazz groups. We're Back! is the second of six albums to come from CSULA during the 1980s featuring the award-winning CSULA #1 Jazz Ensemble.[4] The LP contains tracks from the #1 CSULA Jazz Ensemble to include compositions of three students and from the two directors (professors David Caffey and Bob Curnow).

The qualities of the LP that set it apart from numerous university jazz records of that era is the fact it was entirely written and composed by the students and faculty of CSULA at such a high level.[5] There is a consistent tradition of musicians coming from the CSULA program who have worked with major musical acts, on major studio and movie projects, and hold positions in higher education in music. The roster on this album is self-evident as to the diversity and level of student musicians CSULA developed at that time and has for many years dating far back to musicians (graduates) such as Lennie Niehaus and Gabe Baltazar.

Track listing

All tracks are written by various artists listed

No.TitleLength
1."Blizzard Bop (David Caffey)[6]"4:06
2."Elegy (David Caffey)[7]"5:25
3."The First Circle (Pat Metheny, arr. Bob Curnow)[8]"8:31
4."Cuidado! (Mark Guitierrez)"6:45
5."Commuter Blues (Charles Richard)"4:35
6."At Arm's Length (Jack Cooper)[9]"4:00
7."On Your Toes (Mark Guitierrez)"6:43
Total length:40:05

Recording Sessions

Personnel

Musicians

Production
  • Recording engineers: Jim Mooney and Jerry Wood
  • Mixing engineers: Jim Mooney and David Caffey
  • Mastering: K Disc
  • Cover art: Randy Piland

References
  1. All Music Guide, We're Back!
  2. WE'RE BACK! liner notes, Cal State L.A. Jazz Ensemble LP. 1986
  3. Sharon Hirata featured on tenor with the DIVA Jazz Orchestra, 2008
  4. 1982 Playboy Jazz Festival winner (Playboy Jazz Festival Volume I, OCLC 16737109), , 1986 finals of the Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival, 1988 combo winner of the Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival, special invited performances at the 1987 MENC Convention in Seattle and the 1989 IAJE Convention in San Diego
  5. WE'RE BACK! liner notes, Cal State L.A. Jazz Ensemble LP. 1986.
  6. Blizzard Bop, UNC Jazz Press, Listing and Sound file
  7. Elegy, UNC Jazz Press, Listing and Sound file
  8. The First Circle, Sierra Music Publications. Inc., Listing and Sound file
  9. At Arm's Length, UNC Jazz Press. Listing and Sound file from LP
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