Muirlands Jazz/Rock Ensemble – 1973
I picked this 7″ up mainly because it has a Frank Zappa cover on it, but it actually turned out to be a solid record all the way through. I have no idea what the Muirlands Jazz/Rock Ensemble was (probably a High School Stage Band I am guessing) and from what the label tells me, they were from the San Diego area.
This 7″ plays at 33rpms and has three songs. The tracks on side one are Free and Chunga’s Revenge (Zappa) and on side two the track is Flat Land. Some guy named Don Artimez is the “director” and it is on a label called United Sound (USR 549), I don’t think it is “the” United label that has BB King etc. It says it was recorded at Bassett Custom Recording 6741 Springfield St, San Diego.
Musically it’s pretty cool Jazz/Rock with funky undertones. There is good playing by the soloists, of which the guitarist Tom Bevan (Maynard Ferguson/Jeff Kashiwa) is one and some of the passages get a bit avant-gardey in places. Some pretty forward thinking stuff. A neat little 7″ that you probably don’t see all that often.
20 Comments
awesome – would love to hear this.
Definitely not the big United Artists label – looks like a custom label.
Yeah, not UA, that’s for sure. I listened to it after I wrote the article & the track on side 2 “Flat Land” is a monster, fast break beat drums, cool bass line, pumping horns, wah wah guitar solo, experimental breakdown with drum solo. Killer. What’s the easiest way to link an mp3 to the article? Post a Yousendit link? I should definitely try to get one up.
In 1973 Muirlands was a junior high school in La Jolla, grades 7-9. The musicians on this record were all 12-15 years old when it was recorded. Pretty neat, huh? I was in the Muirlands class of ’73, which became the La Jolla High class of ’76. We just had our 30th high school reunion, and several of the musicians who were in that Muirlands band, including guitarist Tom Bevan, trombonist Michael Sakakeeny, drummer Peter Woods, and sax Peter Arcidiacano gave us a show. They’re still hot!
i just picked up a copy of this at an estate sale here in san diego… what a great disc! definitely one for the archives. btw, “free” is by chicago, not zappa. anyone know if “flat land” is an original, or if it’s a cover? i assume it’s a cover, but can’t find any info on google…
Wow! Just stumbled across this thread. I was one of the musicians (bass trombone) on this recording. The tune called Flat Land is an original written specifically for this band. I believe it was written by Clark Gault, a local San Diego jazz musician. It featured the talents of the band’s exceptional rythm section, Tom Bevan (guitar), Pete Woods (drums) who both went on to have great careers, especially Tom. We all still get together now and then to play as mentioned in one of the posts above. Pretty fun. I would be interested to know what estate sale you found this record at? I believe I still have a couple copies of this in a storage. Guess I need to find a turntable somewhere…
I’m Clark Gault. I just happened to see this thread. Yes I wrote the piece for the middle school band of Don Artimez.I still occasionally play with Pete and Mick. It’s interesting how these things show up in such interesting places.
So cool to see people involved in the making of this record found this review.
Hey Clark Gault. Where can i get copies of your theme’s that were used for Major League Baseball on NBC in the 80’s?
Kris — I’m Tom Bevan’s nephew. Is there any way I could get a copy of this somehow – maybe send the mp3’s or something. This would be a wonderful surprise for the next time I see him! Thanks. David dpbevan@gmail.com
Hi David, I think the mp3s are still embedded in the review, just click on the song titles & they should download.
Does it list all the players on this recording? That’s cool, I was at Muirlands during this period – there were a bunch of really good players…Rob
hey Rob, the players aren’t all listed, only the soloists for each track, i’d have to dig the record out again to let you know the ones other than Tom Bevan.
Thank you, Kris Holmes, for the great review. I played 1st Trumpet on the recording, and it is a real pleasure to see that people are interested after all these years. Tom Bevan, Pete Woods, Mickey Sakakeeny, Peter Arcidiacono, Rob, Dave Southard, Dan Aahkus, Jim Grove, Sean LaMotte, Brian Micheletti, Nick Bailey, Rob Eller, Paul Lasker, and all the others should get a charge out of this thread.
Keep listening, Cliff Gluck
Wow Cliff, this review sure has brought people out of the woodwork so to speak. It really is a great little record for such a young bunch of musicians.
Great memories of all the fun we had with the stage band back in the early 70’s at Muirlands! I played 2nd trumpet and can remember each and every one of band members. Still have my trumpet. Miss you guys and hope you all are well. Hot lips Burton
I know a bunch of these guys, Mickey, Cliff and his sister, Peter Woods. I played the tuba. There were too many good trumpet players.
Don Artimez, Mr A, was the best teacher I ever had. Not only can I still read music, I’m fluent in Spanish, lived in Spain and Mexico, studied Spanish Literature in college. And, Mr A was my first Spanish teacher.
Se lo agradezco mucho.
Yep, great memories! Life was sure simple.
I hope all former band members are healthy and happy out there somewhere.
Now I’ve got to dig out my copy and give a spin. For some reason I’ve never been without a turntable or tons of discs. It’s great to live in the past from time to time.
What a hoot…I have mine somewhere in a binder of 45s. 2nd Tenor Sax. Class of ’76
Yep, what James said, “what a hoot”. I found my old copy and played it. That was a lifetime ago. It’s good to see all these old names. Oh, BTW, Hi Cliff.
Don Artimez was the worst
band teacher ever!! I Was a trumpet
Player in his band class at Wangenheim
Jr High School for 7th and 8th grades.
First off he didn’t hold auditions to
determine which students belonged
In the proper classes. I was randomly
put in his intermediate band class
Even though I was the top trumpet
Player in the all city band for grades
Through 6th…..before entering jr high
It also turned out I was a better
Trumpet player than all the students
In the advanced class that year Mr A
still refused to move me into the
Advanced class saying I would
Just have to wait until the following
Year……talk about an unmotivating
Teacher making me spend a year in
A class that wasn’t going to challenge
Me to be better…….
Then 8th grade came and I was
graciously allowed to be in Mr A’s
advanced band class…..
And surprise surprise I was 1st chair to
Start and continued to hold that chair
The whole year ……
To boot Mr A screwed with my grades
I was also a top competitive swimmer
Starting at age 5 which continued year
Round until I was 19…..
I had an important swim meet ..
Called Western Zones which is a
Meet for all the top swimmers in all
The western states…..US NATIONALS
Are the next step after this level….
So this swim meet
Conflicted with a band performance
That was on a Saturday….
Not a school day…..
Mr Artimez lowered my semester grade
A full grade because I chose the swim
Meet over the band performance…..
I almost gave up the Trumpet because
Of him….I worked my ass off in class
And at home to be the best trumpet
Player possible and he had the nerve to
Screw with my GPA because I missed
A Saturday band event.
He was the most egotistical teacher I
Ever met!!!