[Dixielandjazz] Another Note From Zeke Zarchy

[Robert S. Ringwald]

Zeke just sent me the following:

(snip)
Hi Bob
            
Looking over your email re the difference
between live  and recorded  versions. There were
almost nine times out of ten
differences in Jazz (ad lib) solos.  Almost every
instrumental copy that had a jazz solo either had a
series of chord progressions or the words "ad-lib"
written in that space.  Since the soloist played  off
the top of his head each time it was played It was
difficult to remember what he played last night or
whenever it was.
               The prime example was when Les Brown
called Don
Fagerquist into his dressing room and asked him to
play  the jazz solo like he did on the record.  Don
told us he was amazed and said he couldn't remember it
from night to night.  Les said the record sold a lot
and people expected to hear the same notes they heard
on their record. This has happened many times that we
know of and it's tough. Playing the same thing every
night is like going back to your first wife. (Artie
Shaw)
               Also, Some guys when playing a jazz
solo are sort of in
a semi trance and are playing what their ears are
telling them to do and after the solo ends they come
back to earth and have forgotten what they played.
Hence the difference between live and recorded
                                    Later- Zeke
(snip)