[Dixielandjazz] The OKOM "product"

[Martin Nichols]

Steve B. wrote: I find that when I play for myself and execute difficult passages and 
off
beat chord changes, standing stock still like a classical player nobody 
but
other musicians "get" it. So, to make love to the audience, I make 
clarinet
player faces, squeeze out some body language, play high notes and do 
all
that other vaudeville stuff. And the audience relates, whether they are
"jazz sophisticated" or "jazz challenged".
   
  I think it is interesting that, to my knowledge, Jack Teagarden apparently
  never did any of the "vaudeville stuff" and was a great and successful performer, as were so many others like him. One might object that Jack
  would take his trombone apart once and a while and play without a bell,
  without a slide, etc. however I don't consider that as "tricks" as much as
  demonstrations of his virtuosity as an artist. Others may disagree I'm sure.
   
  To each his own! I watched Georg Brunis play "flat on his back, only using his feet and mouth" to play great trombone in Chicago at the "1111 Club" on Bryn Mawr Ave. in the '50s. I just don't think Teagarden would do that, maybe I'm wrong. I saw Jack in the 60's in a club in Boston where
  the supporting acts were a MC that sang, and a girl stripper. I recall mentioning to the guy next to me at the bar "Teagarden shouldn't have to play in a joint like this." I was stationed at Ft. Deven's at the time and somehow learned that Jack was appearing in Boston. I spoke to him at a table for a few minutes. I recall he was quite a "reserved " person to speak to [mostly listened.] Anyway!
  



 		
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