[Dixielandjazz] Another thought about the Audience & Obscure Tunes

[Steve barbone]

Yes indeed Charlie. Lester and Howard Lanin and Meyer Davis made a fantastic
living with tunes like these mixed in with Dixieland and non-rock. In fact,
they employed many jazz musicians for their "Society Gigs". Pee Wee Erwin,
Kenny Davern, et al among them.

First thing Lanin(s) or Davis would tell a jazz musician is, Kid, you want
to make a lot of money, you gotta learn these tunes. No wrong notes.

Then the jazz musos learned the book. That's why today, Barbone Street can
play in some form or another, 2000+ songs. Including all the show tunes from
the 20s to the 80s, and then some.

Them wuz the daze. But today, one dowager said to me: "You've become the
successor to Lanin." And perhaps we have given some of the "Society" gigs we
play. But make no mistake, we play solid Dixieland Jazz at these gigs and
the rich folks all know how to Foxtrot to it.

Cheers,
Steve

on 6/15/05 3:35 PM, Charles Suhor at csuhor at zebra.net wrote:

> On Jun 15, 2005, at 1:46 PM, Steve barbone wrote:
 
>> Stardust
>> Tenderly
>> I Can't Get Started
>> They Can't Take That Away From Me
>> The Way You Look Tonight
>> I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
>> Begin the Beguine
>> Body & Soul
>> Tea For Two
>> Can't Help Lovin' That Man of Mine
>> Fascinating Rhythm
>> Blue Room
>> If I Were a Bell
>> Fly Me To The Moon
>> Etc., Etc., Etc.
> 
> Time was, even into the 60s, tunes like these were the staple on 4-7
> piece combo gigs, mixed with some good Dixie and a few non-rock popular
> tunes. Did we know how great we had it? For the most part, yes.  Oddly,
> I've got five combo gigs within month, private parties where this is
> exactly what the people want. Not at all typical but I'll take it when
> it shows up. We also play such tunes when the local big band works, but
> it's not as much fun. Good charts, not much blowing. Just like back in
> school, except that we don't woodshed much (or enough) but play many
> tunes from a big repertoire. ("Okay, pull up #246 in the red book.")