[Dixielandjazz] Drive by Trombone players: Musicians beware.

[TCASHWIGG at aol.com]

This article was just too interesting to not pass it on to the list.

Please take it as it is, for the humor of this most unlikely tragic 
situation, we mean no disrespect to the trumpet player.

Us American New Orleans Marching Bands are very safety conscious and have 
always put our trombone players out in front to avoid this kind of tragedy, the 
worst mishap (or was it) we ever had was when the trombonists (accidentally) ho
oked the connection spot of the female grand Marshall dancer's halter tops and 
snapped them off. :)))    No arrests were made as it was not considered 
indecent exposure and apparently did not upset the people along the parade route.

Now you might ask why would a Trombone player do such a thing?  Well, he said 
it was because she refused to take the beads, but if you know any trombone 
players, you know better.

The article below should explain why it is so difficult to sell Dixieland 
Jazz in Germany.
Now all American Dixieland musicians must register under the "Heinrich 
Sommer" act and be pre screened for chaotic playing methods by video tape prior to 
obtaining permission to work in Germany, and trombonist must now all play valve 
trombones only, :))    just kidding!!

Cheers,

Tom Wiggins

DRIVE BY TROMBONE PLAYERS

By Randy Jeffries / Weekly World News
> > (January 23, 1996)
> >
> > BOCHOLT, GERMANY - A band musician died of a brain injury when the
> > trombonist behind him jerked the slide of his trombone forward and
> > struck the trumpeter in the back of the head. Police say the tragedy
> > occurred as the Gratzfeld College Band was rehearsing the spirited
> > American jazz classic, When The Saints Go Marching In.
> >
> > According to other band members, trombonist Peter Niemeyer, 19, "got
> > carried away" with the music. He started gyrating and thrashing around
> > as he played.At one point, he jerked forward and the rounded metal
> > slide on his instrument hit trumpet player Dolph Mohr, 20, dropping
> > him instantly to the floor.
> >
> > "Niemeyer was pumping the slide very hard," said medical examiner Dr.
> > Max Krause. "But it wasn't just the force of the blow that killed
> > Mohr. The slide struck him in the worst possible place -- the
> > vulnerable spot just behind and below the left ear. Bone fragments
> > pierced his brain, killing him instantly."
> >
> > The incident has provoked a storm of controversy over whether or not
> > American jazz should be played in German colleges. "I believe the
> > music is to blame," said Gratzfeld band director Heinrich Sommer. "I
> > was pressured to play that selection by school administrators. But
> > I've always said jazz is dangerous music. Our musicians can't control
> > themselves when they play it. They move and rock back and forth,
> > creating chaos. If I had my way, American Dixieland would be outlawed
> > in Germany. I've been directing bands for 30 years and I've never
> > heard of anyone dying while playing a German march."
> > -----------------------------------------------------------------------