[Dixielandjazz] New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Write-Up

[patcooke77 at yahoo.com]

Larry, there will always be some leaders who just can't help being a painintheass.  To the distress of some, I've played my Fender bass almost exclusively for at least 10 years now.  I have lost a number of gigs because the Trad Police doesn't like it.  They get even further annoyed when I tell them I think the Fender sounds better.  The ones who have really lost their focus will say the big bass "looks better".  
    I have never told a horn player, or anyone else for that matter, how to play; but it seems there is always a horn player who wants to tell me how to play.  I do my best to annoy them.  
    I have on rare occasions dusted off the big bass, but Hurricane Katrina finished it.  I don't wan't to buy another cheap one, and I can't afford to buy a good one, although a cheap one would mollify the Trad Police.....they wouldn't know the difference.  I just don't play it enough to warrant putting the money into it, and I'm getting too old to shlep it around any more anyway....plus I LOVE playing the Fender.
 
Pat Cooke
New Orleans

----- Original Message ----
From: Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis <larrys.bands at charter.net>
To: Steve barbone <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>; patcooke77 at yahoo.com; DJML <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 2:43:01 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Write-Up


Yeah Steve - You are talking to me here - Standing for a 4 hour gig almost 
kills me.  I bring a stool and sit between tunes.  Flexing my back helps.  I 
too have my favorite shoes but they really look crappy with a tux.  I sit on 
my own gigs.

I played a gig yesterday with the Gary Dammer Big band which is a killer 
jazz group.  Brett Stamps (Music staff at Southern Ill Univ at Edwardsville) 
showed up in white tennies with his tux.  He took them off for the 
performance and got razzed every time the took a solo.  We were all going to 
take our shoes off but thought better of it.  That's the second T Bone 
player that has done this trick.

I have to pop a couple of Aleve before the gig to make it through.  I keep 
looking for lighter and lighter stuff to lug in.  I can tell the clock is 
ticking before I will have to hire someone to set up.  Just carrying in 
three horns is getting to be a trial.  I have a Yamaha Custom Bari Sax and 
just getting it in an out of the car is getting to be a drag.  I use a Rock 
& Roller for it and other stuff.

Speaking of the kids.  I played a gig a couple of months ago where I (to the 
displeasure of the band leader) walked out onto the dance floor and played 
32 bars of a rip roarin' 50's type solo.  Before I finished they had formed 
a ring around me and were all clapping.  Six of them followed me out to my 
car after the gig and told me how much fun they had and that they liked what 
I had done and wanted to know where I played etc.  I told him before we 
should do stuff like that which met with he didn't want to do it.  I did it 
anyway but It didn't go over very well with him.  It's too bad.  He also 
doesn't approve of me bringing a stool.

I know he has bad knees and I'm sure that he will gradually come around to 
my way of thinking.  This is also the same guy that bugged me because I wore 
half frame glasses.  "Makes me look too old."  He also wanted me to dye my 
moustache for the same reason

There seems to be a theme here - clue - I am old.  He and I got into an 
argument once.  He told me my playing was sucky.  I told him that I knew I 
wasn't the best sax player in town but I was the best one who would work for 
him!

The kids, at least I call them kids, often ask if they can help me carry 
stuff.   I guess they haven't gotten the "musician's are hired help" concept 
yet.

Old isn't measured in years but in the state of mind.  I have a sign that I 
used to carry in my case.
It read:
Old age and Treachery can always overcome Youth and Skill.

Good luck - Aleve comes in 25 and 50 gig Bottles.
Larry
St. Louis

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve barbone" <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
To: <patcooke77 at yahoo.com>; "DJML" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 1:12 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Write-Up


> Yeah Pat, I hear you. ;-) VBG
>
> My feet are in poor shape and I can't walk more than a half mile or so at 
> a
> time without pain. Nor can I stand and play, without foot pain, having to
> use a stool these days. I also do not go to Festivals or venues where I 
> have
> to walk. Nor would I go to hear multiple bands etc.  And, there are just a
> few performers that I go out of my way to see/hear these days.
>
> The Showboat gig was all I could do physically and I must admit the forced
> exercise helped me to overcome some physical limitations, which is one
> reason I did it.
>
> These days, I still gig a lot, but demand close parking, help with 
> carrying
> my sound system and chairs for the band. It takes courage to grow old and
> remain active. :-) VBG.
>
> The neat thing about our "young people gigs" is they they offer such help,
> can't do enough for us and make sure we are comfortable when playing for
> them. At University of Pennsylvania this Friday, they will carry all our
> gear, watch our cars while unloading and help us park. All the while 
> calling
> us "sir" and being genuinely glad we are there. One of my older friends 
> upon
> seeing this and hearing the applause and cheers, last month asked the band
> members; "How do you handle all this adulation from the kids?" It doesn't
> get any better than that, believe me.
>
> On the other hand, I'll drive 250 miles round trip to a venue where I can
> sit and hear folks like Davern, Randy Reinhart, Ed Metz, Evan Christopher
> and the other "next level up" jazz musicians at a club date, or jazz 
> society
> gig. They are on the cutting edge of "here and now Dixieland" and by
> listening to them, one can still learn.
>
> Pet peeve? Folks who ask me why I wear "soft' shoes to gigs instead of
> snappy dress shoes.
>
> Why indeed? . . . "Because my feet hurt, don't look at them if they offend
> you!"
>
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone
>
>
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