[Dixielandjazz] "Mickey" Music

[Steve Barbone]

on 9/28/06 12:45 PM, Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis at
larrys.bands at charter.net wrote:

> We used to call it the business man's bounce at 120 bpm.  I have been
> playing with a Mickey band that is at this point a rehearsal band and
> doesn't seem to be going anywhere.  Occasionally I pick up work from touring
> groups that come through.  I'm not real thrilled playing with them and have
> been turning down some work.  I prefer playing a little more (read a lot)
> laid back and that stuff is very rigid and you have to be very precise.   If
> you miss a dot or tiddle you are playing solos.  Mickey is just the opposite
> of swing.  While I know it's not good to generalize I think it's the
> opposite of jazz too.
> 
> Some of the guys that have played it for years do it naturally but for me
> it's too much like work.  The only place in the country that it seems to
> still be popular is from about Chicago through the upper mid west, Canada,
> Northern Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.   Then again you won't be able to
> find a polka band in St. Louis either.  Some of those bands occasionally
> touch the Ballrooms on the East side around St. Louis (Belleville, Staunton,
> Alton).  St. Louis is still a bastion of swing so far as ballroom is
> concerned.


BTW, I have, courtesy of another list mate who shall remain unnamed, an MP3
of this wonderful "Mickey parody" by Charlie Barnet & Billy May, "The Wrong
Idea". Anyone who wants to hear it might write off list and I'll forward.

Just put "Wrong Idea" in the subject line and ignore my spam filter because
I'll see it anyway and sent the attachment.

It may remind you of some bands you've heard over the years.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone

Cheers,
Steve