[Dixielandjazz] Re: why people don't like jazz

[LARRY'S Signs and Large Format Printing]

This is my 50th year as a professional musician (since  was 15) and honestly I never thought about some of this.  I really listen to music and I either have to be listening, excluding everything and everyone else or not.  I never could study and listen to music for example. I even listen to elevator music.  I have always done music from an instrumental point of view.  A few years ago when I started realizing that people wanted entertainment and flash above and beyond just music we started becoming entertainers.  This is why probably many of my friends in the business just gave up and quit.  But I wanted to stay in the business so I started entertaining.  I now sing - play a bunch of instruments - have flashy stands and outfits.  But there is one thing that this essay brings out that in my case is true.  I'm simply not lyric oriented and I just can't learn the words to tunes.  I have to have them on the stand.  I have tried every trick I know but to no avail.  Tunes that I have done hundreds of times and sang dozens of times as well as my own practice time just don't stick.  I always thought that I was a pretty smart fella and I have college degrees to prove it.  I have almost instant recall and memorization of tunes on my horn in almost any key and I can't remember even simple lyrics. Very frustrating.  I never needed them before the music was enough.

My old commanding officer in the AF band, usually during inspection, would say "people hear with their eyes."  It's really true. Today I show up in all kinds of costumes.  My trumpet guy (Herb Booth - a great Dixie player) almost rebelled when I showed up with bunny ears on for Easter with a set for him too.  I now play a lot of theme shows and parties.  By the way everyone loved the bunny ears.  I have since played Cinco de Mayo - yes in full Mexican mariachi outfit - a couple of Dixie shows - a 50's show - for the same people.  They love it.  I took a lesson from Spike Jones, Liberace and  others.  Even though I'm all about music THEY aren't.  It's show biz guys.