[Dixielandjazz] What is music? (Trying again)

[Gary Kiser]

Larry,

I lucked out.  First of all, I learned the busking 'ropes' from non 
French musicians in Paris.  These guys had all the tricks; where to set 
up, when, for how long, the type of things to draw attention, etc.  
Aside from learning some tricks, I had a couple of things going for me.

1) I didn't have airline tickets to pay for.  My plan was to go until I 
ran out of money, then to dip into the safety wad in my shoe to get back 
to Paris.  In the end, I made out pretty well and returned to Paree 
'cause I had some gigs.

2) I was a solo act.  I could relocate rapidly and easily without much 
commotion.  Plus, I hitchhiked a bit in Sweden and hitchhiked from 
Copenhagen to Paris on the return trip (hardly touched my safety wad).

3) I was cleanly dressed, but not over done.  In my opinion, you guys 
looked TOO sharp and everyone thought you were a hired act.

4) I don't really know what I'm talking about.  I just had some good 
luck, good weather and met some great people.

Back in the mid 90s, before Eddie Erickson hooked up with that no good 
trio :-) he wanted to take off a month and busk around Europe with me.  
I think we would have made a mint.  Alas, he is too good to get a month 
off.  I had Eddie and Sue over here three times with me on blow bass 
(twice for Sancy Snow Jazz and once for Jazz aux Sources) and we had a ball.

All the best, Gary "pass the hat" Kiser

Gary Kiser
www.sacapulses.com
www.mojobrassband.com




Elazar Brandt wrote:

>Shalom Jazz Fans,
>
>Gary, you did better than we did. My Dr Jazz trio went to Holland last summer
>for 3 weeks with our new hot off the press CD, with the express intention of
>busking 6-8 hours a day for fun, fame and fortune. We had heard so many glorious
>reports of buskers profiting profusely on the streets of Europe, that it never
>occurred to us that we might not at least recover the cost of our air tickets
>and car rental. We could have done that if we made only what we make in
>Jerusalem. And we heard Europe was much more generous.
>
>Well, don't believe most of what you hear. We played our hearts out for 3 weeks,
>on banjo, tuba, trumpet, bone, and vocals, with new silk tailor made uniforms
>from India, and Holland was, shall we say, not impressed. Oh, they heard and saw
>us. We got photographed a lot, but from a distance, apparently so as not to
>incur the obligation of putting something into our hat.
>
>We saw people doing nothing but pattering into a loudspeaker and making a small
>fortune. We saw mimes gathering huge crowds by standing perfectly still and
>doing nothing at all but holding a pose. So we decided to become a statue of a
>jazz band. We tried striking a pose and holding it without playing. This began
>to draw people, but I wouldn't call it a crowd. When someone ventured to put a
>coin in our hat, we'd play a song, then freeze again. Someone else would drop a
>coin, and we'd play again, They got the idea, laughed, and went away.
>
>In one large square we discovered that the entire crowd were stoned out of their
>gourds on pot. I don't know what the rest of the country's excuse was. So, Bill
>Gunter, did we make music? No one will ever convince me that we didn't look or
>sound sharp. We do great in Israel. But the vibes in the air seemed to say,
>"Stay away from Dr. Jazz!" and I to this day have no clue what the problem might
>have been. But in the end we didn't even make enough to cover the gas, parking
>and food, never mind car rental, air fare, or, gasp, profit.
>
>So for now, this jazz band's staying home where we know our market, unless
>anyone wants to book a growing young Israeli band for a festival, wedding or bar
>mitzvah.
>
>In other news, the Ministry of Jazz is launching a brass ensemble. We've already
>taken the act on the street (note: not on the road, but on the street), and we
>have our first gig in June. We're 4-5 trumpets presently. I am aiming for more
>of a brass quintet, with an F horn, bone or baritone, and tuba, but for now all
>my students are learning trumpet, so that's what we've got. I sub on mellophone
>or euphonium when we need a lower brass voice in the mix. Still looking for a
>name, and I hope to record something by the end of the year. We're playing a mix
>of pop, light classical, marches, movie and TV themes, and some big band
>arrangements. It's sounding good. Will try to get some pix and sound clips onto
>my website this summer.
>
>Keep on jazzin',
>
>Elazar "waiting to hear if they accepted my application to be the next pope"
>Brandt
>Misrad HaJazz
>Doctor Jazz Band
>Jerusalem, Israel
><www.israel.net/ministry-of-jazz>
>Tel: +972-2-679-2537
>
>
>P.S. Did I mention that Dr. Jazz has a CD for sale?
>  
>