[Dixielandjazz] Fw: [TPIN] thinking in keys

[Bob Romans]

An interesting post from another list I'm on...the "TPIN".
Romans

Date: Sunday, September 22, 2002 11:07 AM
Subject: Re: [TPIN] thinking in keys


> "I've played a lot of tunes with a lot of different musicians in
>> which someone who knew the changes (chords) would indicate the upcoming
>> change by holding up the number of fingers that represented the upcoming
>> chord "
>
>A man who worked for me as an actuary was, in a prior life, a New England
>Conservatory graduate who played piano for Lewis and Martin in Las Vegas.
>Piano at the front of the stage (for Martin to lean against), band at the
>back.  He said Martin, although in fact always drunk, had a very good sense
>of pitch and an excellent feel for what his voice could do on any given
song
>and night.  Martin would signal the key on stage by holding up fingers --
>right hand for sharp keys, left hand for flats.  One particularly bad night
>for Martin and bottle, he and Lewis did their openning comedy bit then
>Martin announced his song, turned around and held up three fingers on each
>had.  The piano started in A, the band started in Eb--that's a tri-tone, my
>friends.  After the resultant breakdown, Martin ridiculed the piano player
>in front of the audience and my friend got up walk off the job.  (He went
on
>to conduct a national touring company of Man of La Mancha and is now a very
>sucessful planner of retirement packages.)
>
>Tommy T.