[Dixielandjazz] chords vs melody

[Russ Guarino]

Some times the reed player goes "off chord" because he 1] doesn't hear the
chord from the rhythm section and takes a shot at the chord or 2] he just plain
'ol gets lost.

Russ Guarino

Bob Romans wrote:

> It seems like I read somewhere that L. Armstrong said he was told by Oliver
> that listeners should always be able to follow the melody in your solo,
> hidden a little, but not too far away!
> Bob R.
>
> It is curious that mail has been coming in accusing reed players in
> general for playing off the chords, and normally ignoring the melody
> line.  That has been my experience, also.  I go along with what someone
> else said about the reed's "job" in the front line is to run in & out of
> things, thereby creating this necessity.  However, I still think the
> melody line in the back of the head is super important.  You get the
> full example of the reedman playing his chords when you listen to most
> modern jazz sax players.  Listening to someone playing their scales can
> be such a bore!  (I know I'm generalizing a lot, so don't bother to
> attack me on that point.)
>
> I used to know a reed guy that actually "read" the chords as they passed
> through his head.  He had one of those curious minds that can actually
> "see" things, and he would scroll through a song, literally.  Became
> particularly funny if he somehow got distracted and jumped a beat or a
> measure.  There was no way for him to stop scrolling, so he would
> happily play out the rest of his solo one beat or one bar behind or
> ahead, depending on the jump he had made.  No sort of honking or yelling
> from those around could bring him back on beat as he was "reading", and
> played what he read.
>
> The above example is NOT what I would call improvising, or being a jazz
> player.  Improvising requires an understanding and hint of the melody
> line, an understanding & following of the chords, and as I mentioned
> earlier....a hint of the words, altogether will help bring out the full
> art in the song.
>
> Jim
>
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