[Dixielandjazz] vocals

[robert craven]

Pat,
In being interviewed for a band job. I was asked," do you have a vocalist,
or just somebody in the band who tries to sing".

Bob Craven
----- Original Message -----
From: "Patrick Cooke" <patcooke at cox.net>
To: "James Kashishian" <kash at ran.es>; <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2003 9:07 AM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] vocals


> >>> I, personally, enjoy backing a singer that forms part of the music,
but
> do not like having one on stage who just takes over the band.<<<
>
>        When a singer is at the mike, the band becomes the singer's band.
> You will play the singer's tunes, in the singer's keys, and in the
singer's
> tempos.  It just has to be that way.
>         With a really good singer, I have no problems with that.  In fact,
I
> enjoy the little mental gymnastics of playing something that requires to
> exercise my ears and my sluggish old brain.  A good singer can make all
the
> difference in a so-so band.  A bad singer can be a nightmare.
>        Conducting?  A singer has to communicate with the band.  A good
> singer can so this by several different ways....a quick verbal rundown
> before the tune, kicking off the tempo, and some singers just ooze with so
> much feeling you just can't miss what to do next.  Some just really don't
> know how to communicate.
>        But the real nightmare is when a bad singer flubs the
> performance....guess who gets the blame???????
> You guessed it...the musicians!   I have had this happen with top
> studio-level musicians reading the singer's charts.
>         I have backed up some great singers, and some bad ones. I
sincerely
> hope your next singer isn't the club owner's girl friend.
>         Pat Cooke
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "James Kashishian" <kash at ran.es>
> To: <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2003 4:06 AM
> Subject: [Dixielandjazz] vocals
>
>
> >
> >
> > Brian wrote:
> > >I wouldn't think it's an instrumentalists' thing or a jealousy thing
> >
> > Ok, maybe I didn't cover this deeply enough.  In some cases, it IS a
> > pain to back a singer who completely ignores the band, or even directs
> > it...or blames it if things go wrong.  And, many musicians (I'm not
> > including myself here) just don't like a singer in the way.  I,
> > personally, enjoy backing a singer that forms part of the music, but do
> > not like having one on stage who just takes over the band.
> >
> > >While an occasional vocal is ok, it's still the instruments that hold
> > the
> > >most interest.
> >
> > Some songs cry out for the words, though.  Trouble In Mind, Angel Eyes,
> > Doctor Jazz, Ain't Misbehavin'.... to name a few, with no connection
> > whatsoever between them.  And, the general public likes to hear the
> > words to a song.  They recognize a song, many times, by the words rather
> > than the melody.
> >
> > Anyway, I'm into the "heart" thing, and if a musician has it, that's
> > great.  If a singer has it, that's great.  Doesn't matter the instrument
> > (the voice being an instrument in its own right).
> >
> > Jim
> >
> >
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> >
>
>
>
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