[Dixielandjazz] Handel's "Messiah"

Fri Dec 21 11:58:20 PST 2007

> Another example is "In the Mood"

You know I'm really torn about written solos.  Typically I hate to play 
written solos but there are some I really like to hear the same way.  That 
goes for virtually all of the Miller solos.

I don't think I ever heard anyone improve on the "In The Mood"  solo. 
Technically the tenor solo is very difficult to pull off.  That two octave 
drop to the low Bb is difficult and the solo utilizes the full range of the 
horn.  If your horn isn't working perfectly and your reed and mouthpiece 
aren't perfectly matched or if you don't have the chops it just won't 
happen.  I have heard dozens of guys just dunce through that solo including 
myself a few times.  There may be others but I know of only one tenor player 
here that can hit it every time.

I think most don't play it because they can't and stand behind some 
intellectual reason or simply the tried and true "It's my reeds fault".

I think, first demonstrate that you can play it then improve on it.  While 
the latter is real subjective, I can't remember a single improvisation that 
anyone has made including my own that I felt was an improvement or even 
equal to the written.  The new Miller band was on TV some time back and all 
solos were improvised which IMHO marred an otherwise perfect performance. 
They all seemed to me to be top players.   Not a single solo was even 
remotely memorable whereas I can remember almost every one of the original 
perfectly.

As I said I am really torn about written vs. improvised solos but just 
because it is improvised doesn't make it better.  Virtually every time I 
have heard someone improvise that particular solo it has left me cold and 
there is an immediate comparison and I think better luck next time.

As a musician I really don't like written solos for all the reasons you 
mentioned but as a listener to Miller and some others I just can't get past 
them.  How can you improve something that is virtually perfect?  Why would 
you want to?

Having said that improvisation is the heart and soul of jazz so I simply 
don't consider the Miller music to be in my definition of jazz.  That way 
there is no conflict.
Larry
St. Louis
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tim Eldred" <julepjerk at surewest.net>
To: "Larry Walton" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2007 12:06 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Handel's "Messiah"

>I am most supportive of Steve Barbone's suggestion about getting past 
>staid, exact re-creations and re-framing the music so that it connects with 
>the current audience.
>
> Many years ago in the Warner Brothers stores, they had a marvelous video 
> of an all-star choir performing an upbeat, rhythm-driven version of the 
> Hallelujah Chorus.  It took me a while to track it down on CD; it is the 
> final track on "Handel's Messiah, a Soulful Celebration."  The CD itself 
> uses a wide variety of performers and musical styles.  The HC is, in my 
> opinion, one of the most joyous, life-filled celebrations I have heard. 
> In my humble and very personal opinion, traditional versions pale next to 
> it.  When I play it for them, older "traditionalists" hate it and comment 
> that it is not they way it was originally written, but younger folks love 
> it.  If it keeps the music alive, why not???
>
 on the Brian Setzer Big Band's Christmas album.  Traditional melody/solo 
musical line, but delivered in a new, fresh way...
>
> Keep the innovation/freshness alive!!!
>
> Tim Eldred
> Roseville, CA
>
> _______________________________________________
> To unsubscribe or change your e-mail preferences for the Dixieland Jazz 
> Mailing list, or to find the online archives, please visit:
>
> http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz
>
>
>
> Dixielandjazz mailing list
> Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> 