Album

Altissimo's Forward March! is a collection of marches played by the U.S. Army Band under the direction of its leader and commander, Colonel Gary F. Lamb. Known as "Pershing's Own," the U.S. Army Band was instituted in 1922 by General John J. "Black Jack" Pershing, making it a relative youngster in comparison to the U.S. Marine Band. Nonetheless, the U.S. Army Band fulfills some significant duties within the United States, leading every Presidential Inaugural Parade since 1925 and recently performing at the state funeral of President Ronald Reagan.

The generous selection of 17 pieces is well chosen and generally well sequenced, except for an instance when two similar sounding marches in the same key appear in succession. Altissimo does not identify the location of the recording, which is rather dry as though recorded in a classroom and somewhat lacking in low, mid-range. The music is played quite well, particularly Samuel Barber's concert march Commando March, although Colonel Lamb has a tendency to pull slightly on tempi in sections where the pace is supposed to be steady. For marching band music buffs, there are a couple of rarities included, such as T.B. Boyer's Joyce's 71st N.Y. Regiment March and The Purple Carnival by Harry L. Alford. Otherwise, the program is standard without being routine. Among the major ensembles from within the American military, the U.S. Army Band has not recorded extensively, so Forward March! is a welcome account of this band's sound and style.

© Uncle Dave Lewis, All Music Guide

CD 1
John Philip Sousa Composer The Rifle Regiment Work United States Army Band Ensemble, Gary F. Lamb Conductor
1	The Rifle Regiment	3:10			$0.99
William Paris Chambers Composer The Boys of the old Brigade, march for band Work United States Army Band Ensemble, Gary F. Lamb Conductor
2	The Boys of the old Brigade, march for band	2:33			$0.99
John Philip Sousa Composer The Invincible Eagle Work United States Army Band Ensemble, Gary F. Lamb Conductor
3	The Invincible Eagle	3:30			$0.99
Samuel Barber Composer Commando March, for concert band Work United States Army Band Ensemble, Gary F. Lamb Conductor
4	Commando March, for concert band	3:20			$0.99
John Philip Sousa Composer Daughters of Texas Work United States Army Band Ensemble, Gary F. Lamb Conductor
5	Daughters of Texas	3:24			$0.99
Edwin Franko Goldman Composer The Chimes of Liberty Work United States Army Band Ensemble, Gary F. Lamb Conductor
6	The Chimes of Liberty	3:32			$0.99
Thornton Barnes Boyer Composer Joyce's 71st New York Regiment March Work United States Army Band Ensemble, Gary F. Lamb Conductor
7	Joyce's 71st New York Regiment March	2:37			$0.99
Edwin Eugene Bagley Composer National Emblem, march for orchestra Work United States Army Band Ensemble, Gary F. Lamb Conductor
8	National Emblem, march for orchestra	3:03			$0.99
Claudio S. Grafulla Composer Washington Grays, march for band Work United States Army Band Ensemble, Gary F. Lamb Conductor
9	Washington Grays, march for band	4:18			$0.99
Charles E. Duble Composer Bravura for Band Work United States Army Band Ensemble, Gary F. Lamb Conductor
10	Bravura for Band	2:58			$0.99
Harry L. Alford Composer The Purple Carnival March Work United States Army Band Ensemble, Gary F. Lamb Conductor
11	The Purple Carnival March	3:32			$0.99
Silas Erly Hummel Composer National Spirit March Work United States Army Band Ensemble, Gary F. Lamb Conductor
12	National Spirit March	3:06			$0.99
James Hosay Composer The Virginians Work United States Army Band Ensemble, Gary F. Lamb Conductor
13	The Virginians	4:02			$0.99
John Philip Sousa Composer The Washington Post March Work United States Army Band Ensemble, Gary F. Lamb Conductor
14	The Washington Post March	2:36			$0.99
Henry Fillmore Composer Americans We Work United States Army Band Ensemble, Gary F. Lamb Conductor
15	Americans We	3:19			$0.99
Karl L. King Composer Barnum and Bailey's Favorite, march for orchestra (or band) Work United States Army Band Ensemble, Gary F. Lamb Conductor
16	Barnum and Bailey's Favorite, march for orchestra (or band)	2:26			$0.99
John Philip Sousa Composer Stars and Stripes Forever Work United States Army Band Ensemble, Gary F. Lamb Conductor
17	Stars and Stripes Forever	3:38			$0.99