[Dixielandjazz] Musical Gimmicks

[Mike Woitowicz]

Listmates,


I disagree with Bob Ringwald's comments that the front line playing with rhythm is a "cheap trick which has very little musical value." I think it adds a touch of showmanship and variety to a concert. It's one more rhythmic tool, along with other techniques like playing "threes" or playing in stop time or playing a chorus or a bridge on two-and-four, etc.

It's true that one quickly finds out how bad the sense of timing is in the front line when they have not rhythm to rely on. Bands I've played with have solved that problem by having the drummer play a very faint straight rhythm on the rim of his snare, almost imperceptible to the audience. That usually keeps everyone in line.

Besides rhythmic tricks, most bands also use other musical variations during a song (instrumental solos, changing keys, sound dynamics, etc.) to break up the continual polyphonic choruses, otherwise it would get boring very quickly to the listener. Would these variations be of "...little musical value..."? Should we stop doing these?

[As an aside, one of the best musical "gimmicks" is one the Titan Hot Seven performs (perhaps others do it also). At a concert, I saw them "pretend" to play a chorus of Sweet Georgia Brown. Everyone was moving around and swaying with their instruments as if they were actually playing. The all started actually playing together about 3/4 of the way through the chorus. Gimmick, sure. But the audience went wild. They (the audience) knew the musicians were counting and playing the melody in their minds. Is this a gimmick or is it showmanship?]

As many of us have said before, we must not forget the audience. If the audience likes showmanship (fugue rhythm, magic tricks, red hot mamas, washboards or banjo solos), let's give 'em what they want.

Standing back for the flack to fly.

Musical content: I'm Undecided Now since I've Got Rhythm while The World is Waiting for the Sunrise.

Mike Woitowicz
The Banjo Barons Ragtime Band
The Dixie Barons Dixieland Band
www.banjomusic.biz