[Dixielandjazz] Playing with 10 year old Jonathan Russell today

[Steve barbone]

Just back from a May Arts Festival gig with 10 year old jazz violinist
Jonathan Russell. Wow, he has improved since we last played with him in 2004
and he was no slouch back then.

Best part was trading with him on I Got Rhythm. We first split the melody in
chorus between him (violin) and me (clarinet). 2 bars each.

I got rhythm    (Violin)
I got music     (Clarinet
I got my man    (Violin)
Who could ask for anything more (Clarinet). ETC, through the chorus.

Then, the real highlight. After full chorus solos, we traded Eights and then
Fours. This time I went first. Using simple improvisation which he copied.
Hmmmm. OK

Little more complex improv . .which he copied. Hmmmm. OK, so the kid wants
to play eh?

Now getting into serious improv. He didn't copy exactly, but paraphrased and
added some relevant improv of his own. Sneaky kid.

The audience could see me smiling and digging what this 10 year old kid was
doing. The tougher I got, the tougher he got.

WHAT A BLAST. AND THE JAZZ OBLIVIOUS GENERAL AUDIENCE GOT IT. EVEN BEFORE I
REMARKED ABOUT IT AFTER THE NUMBER WAS OVER. EVERYBODY WAS SMILING AND
NODDING, YEAH. (Rooting for the kid)

Tip for those who might be playing with him this year. He can improv better
than a lot of players on the circuit and if you hold back on trades, he'll
cut you to ribbons. :-) VBG.

Or, if you are not a good improviser, let him go first. :-) VBG.

I can hardly wait for the next batch of concerts with him this Summer. I
believe Ed Polcer in New York City has been teaching him how to trade Twos,
Fours, Eights etc and how to hear the preceding improv and build on it. OK
kid, look out, I'm dusting off my "Bird Licks" and "Tony Scott" variations.
No more Mr. Nice Guy. :-) VBG.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone

PS. Damn, I hope he doesn't learn the "Picou Obbligato" on High Society.