[Dixielandjazz] Interlochen

[LARRY'S Signs and Large Format Printing]

Speaking of cutting contests.  Some years ago there was a company that was
trying to sell a gadget (varitone?)that would allow a reed player to play in
octaves.  They had a big band behind Boots Randolph, A symphony player and
one of the local heroes name Bob (deceased) who had played on the Kenton
band.  (unfortunately I can't remember his last name).  They all demoed the
device and then they had Bob and Boots doing fours in an up tempo tune.
Things were going pretty frantic and Bob gave it all he had and Boots played
his exact solo and then fired one back.  I had never seen anyone do that
before.  It was almost like he said I matched you now try this!!!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve barbone" <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
To: "LARRY'S Signs and Large Format Printing" <sign.guy at charter.net>; "Rob
McCallum" <rakmccallum at hotmail.com>; <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2005 4:57 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Interlochen


> LARRY, sign.guy at charter.net wrote: (about challenges & Interlochen etc in
> answer to Rob's post about his experiences at the camp)
>
> > Hi
> > When I was in college challenges were handled in kind of a brutal way.
If
> > you were in a soloist chair (oboe) as I was and you didn't play a solo
quite
> > up to snuff there would be an instant challenge.  The director pointed
at
> > the next player and said go for it.  If he could play it better, you got
to
> > move down a chair.  This kept everyone working.  Fortunately I never
lost
> > one but others did and It was quite a put down but you always knew that
the
> > guy next to you was working on your solos just in case.
>
> Hey Larry & Rob:
>
> You guys should have been on the DJML when we discussed "cutting
contests".
> Most of the genteel folks on the list have no idea about "challenges" and
or
> "cutting contests" and thought that this kind of thing didn't happen any
> more in our "enlightened" musical world.
>
> Ha ha. Man I'll bet we can recall some fierce competition between players
> and aspiring players etc, etc. And it sure as hell still goes on.
>
> It's kind of like racing cars. I asked a friend why he raced cars about 50
> years ago and he looked at me as if I was an idiot.
>
> "Why, to win, of course."
>
> Just like pro football these days. When you do it for a living, you have
to
> FIGHT for your position every day. That or lose it.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone
>
>