[Dixielandjazz] Drive by Trombone players: Musicians beware.

[david richoux]

Umm, Tom - do you actually believe ANYTHING they print in the Weekly  
World News? There is nothing but made-up stories and badly air-brushed  
photos in that tabloid rag... Aliens and Elvis visit the White House,  
Etc. <http://www.weeklyworldnews.com/>

this story has been floating around the internet for ages but most  
people never stop to think about if it is true or not.

if you do a web search on "Gratzfeld College Band" or "Gratzfeld  
College" and you will only find references to the story - there is most  
likely no Gratzfeld College Band, no Gratzfeld College. ( but there is  
a city of Bocholt, Germany...
<http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichelin/gbr/dyn/controller/ 
mapRoadMapDisplay;jsessionid=0000Y5WTVBKZMFDR3REZJPI3UXA+v1fj8das? 
action=mapNavigation&typeZoom=36000&rnd=1073165598571&from=302&productId 
=0> )

bah Humbug!  :-)

Dave Richoux

On Jan 2, 2004, at 1:57 PM, TCASHWIGG at aol.com wrote:

>
> 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."
>>> --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
>>> --
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