[Dixielandjazz] Start strong - Finish Strong

[Steve Barbone]

Gordon of Northridge asked for comment about starting sets strongly, then
building to  a stronger finish.

Dear Gordon:

Roy Eldridge gave me very similar advice in the 1950s. He said in essence,
that when playing in a club, the first number of every set, and the last
number of every set should be the best numbers in the set. It was his
opinion that the audience's first impression of your band on the first
number sets their mood. And then, that they will remember the last number of
the set and judge the set by it. He said, the middle can even be weak by
comparison, but no matter if the first and last numbers are strong.

Same thing with solos, he advised. Start strong, via a high note, or
sustained, growling low blue note etc., set up tension, and then release the
tension by resolving the chord, or softening, then set up more tension, then
release, all the while building to a strong finish. He also advised that
once you couldn't build the solo any more, it was time to end it.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone