[Dixielandjazz] Fwd: Cruise ship gigs for Bands :))

[Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis]

The problem Ginny is the almost age old one - If they can fake they can't 
read and vice versa.  People who can do both well are generally in demand 
and somewhat rare.  Most musicians fall on one side of the fence or the 
other.  Personally I feel a whole lot stronger on improv than I am in 
reading and as I get older reading becomes even more problematical.

Many of the young whiz kids are dynamite readers but take the paper away and 
you might as well have twisted a key off their horns.  Most of their improv 
comes right out of a book and just doesn't flow because they don't learn how 
to make it flow.  Doing arrangements on the fly is also becoming a lost art. 
I doubt seriously if they will find a group that can do both.

As you know trying to find someone who can do both has been the problem in 
my never ending quest for a trombone player.
Larry
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Gluetje1 at aol.com>
To: <TCASHWIGG at aol.com>; <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Friday, November 24, 2006 8:47 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Fwd: Cruise ship gigs for Bands :))


> Thanks, Tom.  It was interesting to me to read the invite for show  band
> auditions for cruise ships.  Have done maybe 8 - 9 cruises in recent 
> years, and 5
> on Holland American.  Generally these "kids" are quite  impressive in the
> versatility of the music they play during the length of the  cruise in a 
> variety
> of capacities.  It must be a great experience musically  and socially, 
> etc.
> for them.  But one early evening I was torn between  my amusement, and my
> motherly desire to call 911 for them and get them some  mentoring.  The 
> daily
> program had advertised Dixieland Quartet in one of  the rooms during one 
> of the
> cocktail hours.  So hubby and seated ourselves  at that spot.  Bless them, 
> they
> were trying to hard to be hot and they just  did not know how to make it 
> happen.
> They were sticking to standards such  as Bill Bailey and they might get 
> off
> to a good start, but next thing you know  the keyboardist would be 
> boppin',
> the reed player looking flummoxed and just  blowing any ol' note to keep 
> the
> sound going, etc.  So while I would be  amazed if a DL band got hired, a
> Dixieland coach for them during rehearsals and  before departure--I have 
> been told
> these occur prior to sailing in Las Vegas and  such places--would be a 
> really
> good hire on the part of Stiletto or whomever is  putting the competencies
> together.
> Ginny
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