[Dixielandjazz] Sitting In

[Stephen Barbone]

Not so. You missed the point that I invite everyone who may want to sit in, to attend Tex Wyndham's rehearsals. See my "PS". They are held weekly when he is in town. Any wannabe is going to learn one hell of a lot more by going there on a Tuesday night than by sitting in one or two numbers with Barbone Street. It also separates those who are serious about wanting to play Dixieland professionally from the once and a whiler who just wants to get on stage.

Dixieland is a very easy style of music to learn for most musicians who play jazz. Best way I know of is to listen to records and play along. Then go to rehearsals like those Tex Wyndham has, then go to open mike nights around town. Then start your own band, or become a sideman in an existing one.

I am always amazed at how many people there are who say they want to sit in, play Dixieland, etc., and then NEVER show up to play in a rehearsal band, of friendly helpful musicians, that plays a book containing 1500 Dixieland tunes. Too much work?

Also note that I said, in my PS, that we encourage "young" musicians. I attend open mike nights throughout the Philadelphia area when I can and am fairly well know at them. If I spot a youngster who likes OKOM, I invite him to Tex's, and or to sit in at one of our lesser dates if he can keep up with us.

However, musicians who show up, unknown and unannounced with a couple of horn cases and say "Can I sit in?" are absolutely refused. (Happened at out last gig at Sydney's Jazz Cafe in Rehoboth)

My position is relatively simple. You couldn't just walk in and sit it at Ryan's, Condon's, Nick's, Birdland, Onyx Club, Three Deuces, etc. etc., (UNLESS YOU WERE ASKED) when I was a kid and since we are playing pretty close to that level of music, I don't see why we should deviate from that.

Regarding the music dying, here in our territory, Dixieland is alive, professionally viable and has an increasing number of gigs and an increasing number of Dixieland bands to play those gigs. That has absolutely nothing to do with sitting in, but everything to do with how those of us in this region present the music. And that is, in no small measure, partly my doing.

Jazz musicians will play Dixieland if it is economically viable. So make it economically viable like I have before you condemn it to death. Encouraging more musicians to play Dixieland is the tail wagging the dog. We should be encouraging the audiences. That will attract the musicians who are already on the scene, but can't "find" a Dixieland gig, as well as new ones.  But then, I've said that to deaf ears before.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone

PS. Maybe Rosie saw a good thing with a free Tuba also. ;-) Doesn't work for us, we have a full 6 piece group with every base covered. Plus we are having such a good time playing, that we are loathe to sit out when someone, not an expert, sits in.


mikemarois at hirelivemusicians.com wrote:

> Nice policy, now do you see why our style of music will die a certain death.  I can see not allowing sit-ins at a grand opening of a club or other important event, but if you hold true to this on even weekly gigs that a band has had for years, how is one to learn and become familiar with performing our style of music.
>
> I thank God that I grew up in Los Angeles and that fine sax man Rosie allowed me to bring my horn in every Friday and Saturday night to perform with his combo.  Rosie had an enormous repitoire that took several years to learn.  When I began to become comfortable with the tunes, Rosie would start changing the keys that we performed the tunes in.  His explaination was to force me to really learn the tunes and my axe.  Rosie started countless numbers of professional musicians playing our style of music, I thank him greatly for what he taught me.
>
> Mike Marois
> tuba/computer guru
> ------------------------------------------------
> On Fri, 10 Oct 2003 13:31:24 -0400, Stephen Barbone <barbonestreet at earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> > Our band has a simple policy. No sit ins unless invited by the band
> > members, or it is someone we know who is an excellent player. And when
> > it happens (very rarely), no more than one tune.
> >
> > We believe that people come to see "us", not a sit in, unless the player
> > is of great reputation.
> >
> > Example: Tonight we are playing the GRAND OPENING of a brand new Jazz
> > Night Club. We will not allow sit ins unless Jim Beebe, Kim Cusack., Tom
> > Artin, Jon Erik Kellso, Randy Reinhart, Kenny Davern or Ed Metz Sr. show
> > up. And then, because they are professionals, they would probably
> > decline the invitation.
> >
> > I admire what Lester Young once told a band leader who asked him to sit
> > in after spotting him in the back of the room listening one night. Said
> > Pres:
> >
> > "No thanks man, I don't dig being dug when I'm diggin."
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Steve Barbone
> >
> > We do make exceptions for young players. We had our bass player's
> > grandson sit in on drums last year for 4 tunes. I paid him $20 and it
> > was his first ever paying gig. He was 14 years old. Plus, I invite them
> > to attend the open rehearsals that I attend several times a month with
> > Tex Wyndham's Red Lion Jazz Band. (I am a sideman in that band)