[Dixielandjazz] No chordal Instrument - was Two horn front line

[Steve Barbone]

on 9/18/06 10:27 AM, Gluetje1 at aol.com at Gluetje1 at aol.com wrote:

I don't see variant chord choices related to caliber of musicianship.
Instead relates to personal preference, ears, and preferences of members of
groups with whom the individual has most often done chords in the past.
Have heard from some outstanding professionals that when they are preparing
to record, the first, and very lengthy, discussion by the group is on what
chords will be used.  Chord rhythm players can also hear the horns
simultaneously playing off differing harmony assumptions and are faced with
having to make instant choices on "who/what" to follow, or to insist on
staying with the chord they played praying that the horns will hear and
follow.  There are musicians who can watch and follow another rhythm players
hands (scarce I think) or use one method or another to call chords.  But
this requires seating where this can happen.
Ginny     

In a message dated 9/17/2006 9:11:23 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
barbonestreet at earthlink.net writes:
Biggest problem with both banjo and keyboard in a group is that unless they
are both excellent players, they often play different chords. :-) VBG.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone

 


Yes I agree, Ginny, except that the upper level musicians who also use
various substitutions because of that preference, will try and make sure, as
you say, that everyone is using the same chords and changes. Lesser
musicians are often not capable of, or just do not make this attempt. Or
they get into arguments about which is the right chord.

That even sometimes happens to the top players, e.g. Thelonious Monk firing
Oscar Pettiford after they got into a heated argument about chord changes
and Pettiford would not agree to play the changes Monk was making. (on a
tune Monk wrote)

I think most top level players "hear" variations and are instantly aware of
how to improvise around them properly. Many others are not able to do this
and you get a train wreck. Especially where the players are not used to
working with each other.  It is in this instance that excellent musicians
perform far better than run of the mill players.

Main thing is that if you have 2 chord instruments in a group, Or even one
chord and one bass instrument, they should be on the same page and the
changes should be discussed in advance, as you point out if the players are
unfamiliar with each other, or the tune.

One thing I do in my band, where we have to substitute players because of
prior gig commitments, is to make sure the chord and bass instruments have
extensive performance experience with each other so as to avoid lengthy
chord discussions on the job.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone