[Dixielandjazz] The Lowdown on Mister Boyd

[BoGanglesBobbin at aol.com]

Hello Folks!

    This is Brett! I've gotten so many kind and supportive emails from so 
many of you lately and I would like to thank them now: Academy of Motion Pictures 
and Sciences (ha ha ha), Bill Gunter, Nancy, Meg & Big George, Dave the 
moderator and anyone who I'm forgetting. 

    I figured since many of you do not know who I am, I figure that I should 
at least explain who I am and what I do and why I decided to join the DJML. 

    I am a 17 year old trumpet player-banjo player-singer-pianist-composer 
and co-lead a great New Orleans jazz style band with my very good friend, Paul 
Scott who is also a member of the DJML. Let me give you the lowdown on how I 
got into this music!!!!:

    My Grandfather, Chap Boyd, used to play trombone with many big bands such 
as the Sammy Kaye Orchestra and at one time one of Ted Lewis' bands. In his 
later years, when I was a wee little man, he would invite me to the rehearsals 
of a small time local banjo band called "JUSTA BUNCHA BANJOS". As a wee little 
man I loved the rhythm that 25+ banjos could create and I remember not being 
able to keep my feet still. I also remember almost every person in that banjo 
band smiling and really enjoying themselves everytime I was there. 
Unfortunately in 1996, my Grandfather passed away from Lung Cancer. I was so saddened to 
think that there would be no more Wednesday nights where I could let all my 
cares go and listen to that ol' banjo band. 

    However years passed, I turned 14 and decided one morning, "I've Got To 
Go Back To The Banjo Band!" I tracked them down on the internet and found their 
new rehearsal location. I attended a rehearsal and found my self floored 
again by that never-forgotten 2-beat music. So many of the people in the band 
offered lessons, except the most exceptional banjoist there offered them to me, at 
no cost. I will not mention his name because I don't have his permission so 
until then, we can call him "MIKE". Well for roughly 2 years I had taken 
lessons on tenor banjo from Mike and he taught me just about everything I needed to 
know to play banjo with any dixieland band around. The best part about it was 
that I loved it, I felt the rhythm and I wanted to contribute a swingin' 
quality to whatever group I was playing with. 
    
    Then after 2 years of being in the banjo band I landed a spot playing 
banjo all the time with Bob Leive's incredible Wooster St. Trolley Band. What a 
thrill that was for me. I was basically given the chance to start with the 
pro's by getting that opportunity to play in Bob Leive's band. But after the first 
night when I heard Bob Leive play trumpet, which is something I wish everyone 
could have heard, I said "Banjo is nice, but trumpet is nicer". I just had 
this overwhelming passion for trumpet every since. Ever since then I've been 
continuing to puruse my goal of being a trumpet player (self taught), and 
entertainer. I've been so lucky to work with the people I have so far and have gone 
so far in such little time. 

    Since the days of Wooster St. I have been able to form a band with the 
very talented Paul Scott, who is the tuba and string bass player for our group 
THE NEW CELEBRATION JAZZ BAND. He will frequently play drums with our group but 
mainly plays tuba and string bass. I've learned many of my entertaining 
skills from Mr. Leive and still have so far to go. I've found that my one goal in 
playing music, whatever kind, is to PLEASE THE AUDIENCE, that's all I care 
about. I wouldn't care if the club, theatre, restaurant I would play ripped me 
off, as long as the people enjoyed themselves. 

    The thing I love about my group, The New Celebration Jazz Band, is that 
we don't only play dixieland. My goodness we play Roy Orbison, Liza Minnelli, 
plus lots of standards from the 50's and 60's. Of course we specialize in New 
Orleans jazz but like I've said, we like to please the audience. That reminds 
me, those of you who have not heard LIZA MINNELLI's newest album "LIZA'S BACK" 
your missing out. She has made such a triumphant return to the stage and you 
must get her cd. She is truly marvelous...too marvelous for words. You have to 
hear it to believe it!

    I don't want to ramble on and upset people with long messages like this 
but unfortunately I cannot as of yet describe my playing experience in less 
than 3 paragraphs....and there's more I haven't told you yet about the places 
I've played such as The Today Show on NBC, CBS and more! I hope this is a help to 
those of you who don't know me well. I've probably told a little too much but 
who cares---so who cares....so what! If anyone has any questions feel free to 
email me at NEWCELEBRATIONJB at AOL.COM---or for more information on my band 
please visit www.geocities.com/newcelebrationjazzband

THANK YOU ALL=========================Brett Boyd

                    LIVE * LOVE * LAUGH