[Dixielandjazz] Too Loud?

[Rob McCallum]

While agreeing that the bass shouldn't be the loudest instrument in the
band, the bass is the foundation of the group and does need to be heard.
Though I agree that many bands are over amplified, I've also heard bands
play acoustically where most of the instruments just don't project.  These
bands, in order to balance, are forced to play quieter.  The problem is that
they might sound well balanced to the musicians on stage, but their sound
dies in front of the stage.  I've been in medium sized crowded clubs where
the crowd noise overpowers the band and I can barely hear them (they end up
as background noise).  In that situation, no one even pays attention to them
anymore except for the first few tables in front of the stage.  IMHO, very
few upright bass players can make their sound project in most situations
without the aid of at least a small amplifier.  As well, if players utilize
microphones more thoughtfully, they don't have to blow so hard and can put
more thought into their solos and listening instead of trying to blow loud
just to be heard.   Bands should always analyze the playing environment to
see what's needed i.e. if you're playing on an outdoor show wagon in the
middle of a festival in a park on a breezy day, does anyone seriously think
that an upright bass is going to project 5 feet past the stage?  If someone
is standing 30 or 40 yards away from the stage they'll probably hear a
trumpet, a drum, and an occasional trombone.  Better to have everyone miked
and  have a competent sound guy to balance everyone.

All the best,
Rob McCallum

----- Original Message -----
From: <TBW504 at aol.com>
To: <yup1275 at earthlink.net>
Cc: <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2003 8:51 AM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Too Loud?


> It so happens that I was a bass player too, in an acoustic band apart from
a
> mike for announcements and clarinet solos. Anyone who wanted to sound out
> either hit or blew their instruments a bit harder, and some of the time we
all
> played very quietly just like Joe Oliver and Morton suggested we should.
No-one
> will persuade me that it is appropriate as is sometimes the case for a
bass to
> be the loudest instrument in a band.
> Brian Wood
> _______________________________________________
> Dixielandjazz mailing list
> Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz
>