Re. [Dixielandjazz] The Bridge

[David W. Littlefield]

I would suggest that the only way to play "Begin the Beguine" that has any
point, is the Artie Shaw version. Presumably anyone who requests it has
that record in mind. 

If someone wants to try it, I'll send 'em my lead sheet from my "30s-40s
Fake Book".
I have it in C and Bb. If someone wants to make a band chart, there's a
stock arrangement--probably Jim Jones (who took over the Charles Anderson
fake book and chart collection) has it. 

In his memoires, a famous model photographer said he used to play the
record when the model was nervous, because it had a strange calming effect.
The most notable instance was Marilyn Monroe's Playboy shoot.
   
--Sheik

At 02:36 PM 1/13/2004 -0500, Barbone wrote:
>Patrick Cooke wrote:
>> Begin the Beguine fits no standard pattern...One chorus of the tune is well
>> over 100 bars....I lost the ability to count that high a few years ago.
>> Each 'A' strain is 32 bars, then the "bridge" is 32 bars, another 32 bars
>> after that, and just when you finally think it's going to end, it goes "Oh
>> yes, let them begin the beguine! Make them plaaaayyyy...which goes on for
>> another 32 bars, and with a 16 bar double ending you lose count.....Let's
>> see, where did I put that calculator?
>>    I used to play with a piano player who played 3 entire choruses. By the
>> time he was done, so was I.
>
>Yeah, good one Pat. I played a request for it on New Year's Eve and felt like
>the Eveready Bunny that keeps on going and going and going. Right after that
>someone else requested Sing Sing Sing. Oh my, what a night. :-)