[Dixielandjazz] Piano Playing Tips

[Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis]

Depends on the style.  Stride players can drive a band but more modern comp 
styles just won't cut it.
Larry
St. Louis
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert S. Ringwald" <robert at ringwald.com>
To: "DJML" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Friday, February 09, 2007 2:18 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Piano Playing Tips


> 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

>