[Dixielandjazz] Piano Playing Tips

[Robert S. Ringwald]

Regarding the comments below.

I have been playing piano, various styles, professionally for 55 years, 
having played my first pro job when I was 12.

There are no absolutes as regards to piano players being able to maintain a 
tempo within a rhythm section, or being able to drive a band.

it all depends on the other rhythm instrument players and the pianist 
him/herself.  I have worked with rhythm players who listen and are aware of 
tempos.  And then there are the ones who are completely oblivious to 
anything, including musicians around them, or tempos.

Sometimes acoustics have a play in the mix.  Believe it or not, if the 
rhythm section is spread out too far away from each other, and if the 
acoustics are such that the sound is bouncing around, it can raise hell with 
the rhythm players being able to work together, no matter how good they are.

Often one or more of the members of a rhythm section have a preconceived 
idea of what tempo a song should be played at.  Thus, after the leader 
counts off the song, the tempo speeds up or slows down to that preconceived 
idea.  This is bad news...

Except for very rare instances, (there is an exception to every rule), The 
rhythm players should always be aware of the tempo that was counted off, & 
keep the tempo there.

--Bob (Now what'd they do with that damn piano?) Ringwald



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Haesler" <bhaesler at bigpond.net.au>
To: "Craig I. Johnson" <civanj at roadrunner.com>; <richard88jazz at nycap.rr.com>
Cc: "dixieland jazz mail list" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 10:29 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Piano Playing Tips


>> Not sure I agree with that...............I've played with piano players 
>> that
> sure could drive a 6-8 man  band.<
>
> Dear Craig,
> I certainly agree with that.
> DJML listmate Adrian Ford (here in Sydney, Australia) has been doing for
> years.
> And he is not alone.
> Kind regards,
> Bill.
>
>
>
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