[Dixielandjazz] Re: Dixielandjazz digest, Vol 1 #427 - 20 msgs

DWSI@aol.com DWSI@aol.com
Sun, 12 Jan 2003 08:39:16 EST


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In a message dated 1/12/2003 7:24:20 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
dixielandjazz-request@ml.islandnet.com writes:

> >----- Original Message -----
> >>From: <Artwoo@aol.com>
> >>To: <patcooke@cox.net>; <kash@ran.es>; <dixielandjazz@ml.islandnet.com>
> >>Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2003 12:41 PM
> >>Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Blue Room...Duke Ellington
> >>
> >>
> >>>Hi Group:
> >>>
> >>>The anecdote about the bad key on the piano reminds of the time I
> heard
> >>Duke
> >>>Ellington play in Las Vegas in the 60's. (may have been  the Sands
> >Casino)
> >>>
> >>>He was giving one of his trademark piano intros and came across a bad
> >>note.
> >>>
> >>>Duke waved off the band and with a great smile on his face told the
> >>audience
> >>>"You'd think with all the money this casino has, they could afford to
> >fix
> >>>this piano."
> >>>
> >>>The audience roared with approval. That gesture transformed a legend
> >into
> >>a
> >>>warm human being.
> 

Dan Spink Replies:

This Duke Ellington story brings focus to an extremely unfair and 
discriminatory practice in the music industry over the years that must now be 
brought to light and rectified. As a piano player in a Dixieland band it was 
immediately obvious to me that this loathsome practice was just accepted as 
status quo by all musicians. THIS MUST NOW STOP! The piano almost NEVER 
receives the solo time, focus or attention of any of the horns. There are 
even times people ask, "is there a piano in that band?" I am suggesting new 
legislation that requires, by law, the piano to be given solo time equivalent 
to any horn, or the combination of horn instruments in all performances of 
all songs. 

Dan (a member of the abused minority) Spink

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<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT  SIZE=2 FAMILY="FIXED" FACE="Courier New" LANG="0"><B>In a message dated 1/12/2003 7:24:20 AM Eastern Standard Time, dixielandjazz-request@ml.islandnet.com writes:<BR>
<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"></FONT><FONT  COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="arial" LANG="0"></B>&gt;----- Original Message -----<BR>
&gt;&gt;From: &lt;Artwoo@aol.com&gt;<BR>
&gt;&gt;To: &lt;patcooke@cox.net&gt;; &lt;kash@ran.es&gt;; &lt;dixielandjazz@ml.islandnet.com&gt;<BR>
&gt;&gt;Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2003 12:41 PM<BR>
&gt;&gt;Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Blue Room...Duke Ellington<BR>
&gt;&gt;<BR>
&gt;&gt;<BR>
&gt;&gt;&gt;Hi Group:<BR>
&gt;&gt;&gt;<BR>
&gt;&gt;&gt;The anecdote about the bad key on the piano reminds of the time I<BR>
heard<BR>
&gt;&gt;Duke<BR>
&gt;&gt;&gt;Ellington play in Las Vegas in the 60's. (may have been&nbsp; the Sands<BR>
&gt;Casino)<BR>
&gt;&gt;&gt;<BR>
&gt;&gt;&gt;He was giving one of his trademark piano intros and came across a bad<BR>
&gt;&gt;note.<BR>
&gt;&gt;&gt;<BR>
&gt;&gt;&gt;Duke waved off the band and with a great smile on his face told the<BR>
&gt;&gt;audience<BR>
&gt;&gt;&gt;"You'd think with all the money this casino has, they could afford to<BR>
&gt;fix<BR>
&gt;&gt;&gt;this piano."<BR>
&gt;&gt;&gt;<BR>
&gt;&gt;&gt;The audience roared with approval. That gesture transformed a legend<BR>
&gt;into<BR>
&gt;&gt;a<BR>
&gt;&gt;&gt;warm human being.<BR>
</BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
</FONT><FONT  COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 FAMILY="FIXED" FACE="Courier New" LANG="0"><B><BR>
</FONT><FONT  COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"></B>Dan Spink Replies:<BR>
<BR>
This Duke Ellington story brings focus to an extremely unfair and discriminatory practice in the music industry over the years that must now be brought to light and rectified. As a piano player in a Dixieland band it was immediately obvious to me that this loathsome practice was just accepted as status quo by all musicians. THIS MUST NOW STOP! The piano almost NEVER receives the solo time, focus or attention of any of the horns. There are even times people ask, "is there a piano in that band?" I am suggesting new legislation that requires, by law, the piano to be given solo time equivalent to any horn, or the combination of horn instruments in all performances of all songs. <BR>
<BR>
Dan (a member of the abused minority) Spink</FONT></HTML>

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