''We're Back!'' 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.''WE'RE BACK!'' liner notes, Cal State L.A. Jazz Ensemble LP. 1986 The jazz band had numerous student musicians that have made a name for themselves as professionals to include Sharon Hirata,

Luis Bonilla Luis Diego Bonilla (October 12, 1965) is an American jazz trombonist of Costa Rican descent. He is also a producer, composer, and educator. Biography Early life, musical education and influences Luis Bonilla was born and raised in Eagle Rock, C ...

Phil Feather
Jack Cooper
Charlie Richard
Eric "Bobo" Correa
Mark GutierrezVince Dublino
an
José Arellano

Background

In 1984 and 1985 th

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.1982 Playboy Jazz Festival winner
(Playboy Jazz Festival Volume I, ), , 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 The LP contains tracks from the #1 CSULA Jazz Ensemble to include compositions of three students and from the two directors (professor
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.''WE'RE BACK!'' liner notes, Cal State L.A. Jazz Ensemble LP. 1986. 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 Leonard Niehaus (June 1, 1929 – May 28, 2020) was an American alto saxophonist, composer and arranger on the West Coast jazz scene. He played with the Stan Kenton Orchestra and served as one of Kenton's primary staff arrangers. He also playe ...

and Gabe Baltazar.

Track listing

Recording Sessions

* Recorded: May 10, 17, and 23, 1986
Sage and Sound Recording
Hollywood, California * Mixing: June 23, 25, 26, 1986
Sage and Sound Recording
Hollywood, California

Personnel

Musicians

*Conductor
David Caffey
*Saxes and woodwinds: Charlie Richard, Sharon Hirata, Phil Feather, Jack Cooper, Scott Ackerman *Trumpets and flugelhorns
Tim Neff
Barry Parr, Ken Montgomery, David Leon, Jim Bynum *Trombones
Gary Smith

, Tom Griffith
John Sandhagen
Brent Decker *Guitar and Piano: Mark Gutierrez *Vibraphone and marimba: Cory Estrada *Bass: José Arellano *Drums
Vince Dublino
*Percussion: Eric "Bobo" Correa

Production

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

References

External links

''We're Back!''
at Allmusic Guide * {{Authority control 1986 albums California State University, Los Angeles Jazz Ensemble albums