[Dixielandjazz] Musical Gimmicks

[Robert S. Ringwald]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Woitowicz" <banjomusic at charter.net>
To: "Bob Ringwald" <robert at ringwald.com>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 03, 2004 9:16 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Musical Gimmicks


> 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?


No, of course not.  We do all of those things.

--Bob Ringwald




>
> [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
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