[Dixielandjazz] Re: Dixielandjazz Digest, Vol 7, Issue 34

[Stephen Barbone]

> Snogpitch <snogpitch at prodigy.net> wrote about Barbone Street
>
> I am curious, have all 40 performed simultaneously on the same stage as "one
> band"? That would be something to experience.

No, of course not.

> My take on the issue, I believe there may be substitutions as band members
> do get sick, leave the band, and a variety of other reasons.  I don't expect
> the band to change it's name during the change of personnel.
>
> I don't think a fan is in it for "The Name Band".  The fan ultimately
> connects with the performer or certain performers in their performance if it
> hits their soul (mantra, mojo, what have you).

Preservation Hall has fans as a band, not as John Brunious of Frank Demond. And these fans
buy many CDs, T Shirts, Hats, etc at each road performance. Perhaps they are different
from the kind of fan you or I are, but they are fans, and they spend money proving it.

> Those who enjoy the genre, without the fandom associations, will not care
> who is playing or what name they play under.  The numerous number of "cover
> bands" in all genres has proven this to be the case.  This is what Steve is
> referring to, and I don't condone him for it.  Apparently, there are so many
> variations of the band, no true following of a specific band member can be
> attained.

Au contraire. We have a large following of fans of specific band members. How could we
not, given the bios of the 6 in the "A" band? For example, Ace Tesone (bass) often gets
requests from fans to sign albums that he recorded with Mel Torme or Clifford Brown 50
years ago. Or Glenn Dodson (Tromb) gets more autograph requests than the rest of us
because he was principal TB for the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra for 28 years and one
of the best TBs in the world 30 years ago. These fans follow the A band around

> Do I enjoy "cover bands"?  If they play good music, yes.  Do I go to a
> concert expecting to see a certain band member?  Depends on the band and the
> show (note: it is two different things).  Now, in that same context, if two
> shows were playing simultaneously with members I wanted to see at each
> venue, then where would I go?  It would depend on "which performer" I wanted
> to see more.

Aside from the fact that our multiple gigs could in no way be called "cover bands" you are
right. Happens with our core group of fans at our Fat Tuesday gigs.

> I guess Coca-Cola did a good job advertising "The Real Thing" a little bit
> too much?

Nah, has nothing to do with it. Your views are for the most part right on. Just that you
think we are multiple booking all the time and that is just not so. Just 10 or 12 times a
year out of 160 gigs. And always by client or customer request.

Multiple gigs are a fact of life among professional musicians that do not have band gigs
paying them a living wage in a year. Always have been, always will be. Jazz musos very
rarely can make a living solely playing jazz, or solely playing with one band.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone



Cheers,
Steve