[Dixielandjazz] Trombone Focal Dystonia

[Ron L'Herault]

And to think, up to now I thought Dystonia was one of those countries that
resulted from the break up of the U.S.S.R.

Ron L

-----Original Message-----
From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
[mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com]On Behalf Of Charlie
Hooks
Sent: Monday, August 08, 2005 12:29 PM
To: Steve barbone
Cc: DJML
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Trombone Focal Dystonia



On Sunday, August 7, 2005, at 07:34 PM, Steve barbone wrote:

>  He was not familiar with the term focal dystonia and can play all
> day long with a high energy sound.

Most players are not familiar with it--until suddenly they get it, or
some friend gets it and is instantly a former musician.   Having iron
chops is apparently no protection: the freezing up can happen in mid
chorus; and once it does, you are usually toast.  Close friend of
mine from Mississippi, on verge of making it in New York, got hit
with focal dystonia [while Stan Getz was playing in his (Clyde's)
non-air-conditioned hotel room, stripped to the skin for sweating
purposes only] and never played another headline gig.  He ended in
the Ph.D. program at Michigan where I met him, and later became
Academic Dean of the University of Alabama.  Could play roughly 4 to
8 bars of the damndest trombone you ever heard before blowing air
only.
My friend, Dan Havens, one of the truly fine trumpet players of OKOM,
also became an academic, Professor of English at Southern Illinois
University, now retired and able to play all he wants--except that he
got hit with focal dystonia about the same time.
"Poo-tee-weet..." as Kurt Vonnegut wrote.

The first oboist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra had to retire in
his forties after developing focal dystonia in his left little
finger.  It ain't no fun and there ain't no cure, and you'll shout
when it hits you, yes, indeed...!

Charlie Hooks
>
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