[Dixielandjazz] Symbols, Sizzle

[Don Ingle]

Bob:  Perhaps the most admired cymbal of all was the magnificent Chinese
cymbal owned by Nick Fatool. I knew drummers on the coast in my days there
that would have hocked the family farm to acquire it. It had a sound that
was pure, carried well, and in the hands of Fatool could do no wrong. One
might wonder where that cymbal is now -- for drummers, finding it might be
like  the search for the Holy Grail of brass works.
To have watched as the Armenian Hawk of the Desert played, his dark eyes
watching each player's body motion as well as listening intently to the
music the players made, was to see the ultimate in backing up musicians to
make them sound their best while easing their task.
A little aside about Nick:
His wife, Dotty, and my mother used to play cards once a week in the
afternoon with two other band wives - telling the men folk they were playing
bridge. In reality they were playing poker and planning to clean house with
the hubbies who had fluffed them off earlier when they had asked to play the
game.
Later, when they insisted and the men folk finally let them play, the ladies
trimmed their posteriors big time. Dad said they never knew what hit them.
Dotty especially rubbed it in on Nick that night.-- and no one was more
surprised -- but also laughing more than Nick.
Really miss those folks, all.
Don Ingle


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert S. Ringwald" <robert at ringwald.com>
To: "DJML" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Friday, September 10, 2004 12:36 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Symbols, Sizzle


> Listmates,
>
> As far as I am concerned, a good drummer will use whichever drum, symbols,
> etc that the gig & music calls for.  There is no absolutes.
>
> However, what drives me up the wall is the use of sizzle symbols.
>
> I suspect that, since a drummer is sitting right there, within a stick's
> length of the sizzle symbol, he is hearing the stick hit the symbol.
>
> However, get 10 feet away from the drums and you do not hear the stick hit
> the symbol.  All you hear is the steady, incessant, boring,  hiss of the
> staples or chain or whatever is making the sizzle sound.  There is no
> rhythm, just a hiss.
>
> Just try and convince the drummer of this fact.  No way do they believe
you.
>
> IMHO- a sizzle should be used very sparingly.  Perhaps one swipe with the
> brushes at the end of a ballad.  But not as a ride symbol on a up-beat
tune.
>
> --Bob Ringwald
> Fulton Street Jazz Band
> The Boondockers (Jazz and Comedy)
> Amateur Radio Station K6YBV
> 37,000 feet above Novascocia
> On my way to Athens via London.
>
>
>
>
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