[Dixielandjazz] The New Celebration Jazz Band --- one of the newest band...

[Stephen Barbone]

I second Tom's advice guys.

When I was 16 years old, my mentor Hank D'Amico took me to Ryan's in NYC
to meet one of my heroes, Sidney Bechet, before Bechet left for France.
He was there with a quartet and asked me if I wanted to sit in. I said
no (purposely left my horn home) because was very intimidated by his
reputation. He couldn't have been nicer to this young wannabe jazz
clarinetist.

Five years later, after a year playing around in Europe, I went to see
Bechet at the Vieux Colombier in Paris, this time with horn. Bechet
recognized me and said, hello Hank D'Amico's buddy, come up and play. I
did, for 3 nights running. As I was leaving the last night, he said, "
Here is $20 American. "You be sure and tell everyone you played a
playing gig in Paris with Bechet."

I never been ashamed of doing just that. And I've been doing the same
thing to the kids who I invite to sit in with Barbone Street. Including
my favorite a year ago to the 14 year old grandson (drummer) of our bass
player. It was his first paying gig and he is now playing more paying
gigs out in the Cleveland area. How many kids will ever be able to say,
"I played a paying gig with my grandfather?"

Especially when his Granddad played with Lester Young, Billie Holiday,
Clifford Brown, Ben Webster, Max Roach, Buddy Rich, Barrett Deems,
Muggsy Spanier,  J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding, and a whole bunch of other
20th Century jazz legends.

Go For it.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
clarinet / leader
Barbone Street Jazz Band


TCASHWIGG at aol.com wrote:

>    Hey you guys:
>
> You Go for it, and this is the way you should do it, and do not be
> afraid to
> put your name out there anywhere and with anybody, it all helps get
> you
> popular, especially if you are good.
>
> Don't let the Old timers and fuddy duddys and nay sayers on this list
> bother
> you with comments about what is this crap.
>
> This crap is getting gigs and playing good music, even if much of it
> may not
> be DIXIELAND, for God's sake don't let that stop you, keep expanding
> that
> repertoire and playing what the people want to hear, or you will find
> yourself
> categorized as just and old Dixieland Band.
>
> Never be afraid to change with the times and adjust, that is how you
> will get
> popular and get more and bigger and better gigs.
>
> Do Always however insist that they list the Correct and Full name of
> your
> band,
>
> Don't settle for "Dixie Jazz Band",
>
> Or "Live music here to night."
>
> And if Liza does show up make sure you get a picture of the band with
> her, it
> will someday prove valuable to you for the company you have kept.   Or
> any
> other celebrity that may show up at this gig or any others.   If Liza
> does show
> up she might like you and hire you for a big party at her house where
> a lot of
> other celebrities will also hire you and for better money than you
> will ever
> make in a pizza parlor playing just old Dixieland music.