Today is the 241st birthday of the United States Marine Corps. Hard-core Marines (is there another kind?) might consider it heresy to create a jazz version of the Marine Corps Hymn. They would be wrong. A few years ago during a six-hour bus ride to a performance by the Marine Corps All-Star Jazz Band, Staff Sergeant Ken Ebo, the lead trombonist, wrote an arrangement of the  Marine Corps hymn. The band is made up of the 18 best Marine jazz musicians. When they arrived to rehearse for their concert in Marquette, Michigan, they sight-read Sgt. Ebo’s brand new chart.
I hope that someday we can hear the extended version. The band’s tours are designed to increase awareness of the Marine Corps. They probably don’t need to tour Afghanistan.
For a memory of a special Marine friend, go to this Rifftides archive post.
Tomorrow is Veterans Day in the US. Best wishes and gratitude to all members of the military, past and present, who have kept the United State of America safe.