[Dixielandjazz] Turk Murphy and Trumpet Solos

[Robert S. Ringwald]

Some time ago there was a discussion regarding Turk Murphy and trumpet 
solos, or the lack of, here on DJML.  I sent the post to Bob Schulz for his 
comments.

In case you do not know, Bob was Turk's last trumpet player, worked with 
Turk for about 12 years and IMHO, one of, if not the best!  Bob now leads 
his own band, the Frisco Jazz Band.

Below are his comments.

--Bob Ringwald

(snip)
Bob...Wow, I'm really late with this one...As for the DJML, you could just 
pass along:

We all had plenty of solos, but they were always at a specific time in each 
piece.
On occasion Bob Helm and I would accidentally play our solos in reverse 
order, and
that would really get under Turk's skin:-)

As for all the other questions:
I guess I never really noticed if the cornet was subdued or not in the 
recordings...It
never was when we were performing live.

As for Turk and having an ego...I never even gave that much thought...I 
suppose he
did, but I never really noticed it...It was His Band and he could really do 
whatever
he thought was best.  I had no problem with that at all...my job was to do 
my job
and be a good sideman and not a shit disturber:-)

That's all I can add to the questions you gave me...Playing with Turk was a 
great experience for me in many ways.
I learned more of what to do and not to do while leading a band...I won't go 
into
any of that!
(snip)

Bob Ringwald adds:

Maybe Turk had an ego.  Or maybe he just wanted his band to sound the best 
that it can.

There are several reasons why certain musicians become band leaders. 
Sometimes they are not very good musicians and the only way they can get 
work is to form a band and become the leader.

Others become band leaders because they have a sound in mind and feel that 
they know how to get it.

Then there are musicians who become band leaders by default . . . . No one 
else wants to do it.

I'm sure there are other reasons which some listmates can come up with.

Sometimes a band leader's quest for perfection is mistaken for ego.  What is 
wrong with a band leader wanting to have his band be the best, look the best 
and conduct themselves like professionals?

--Bob Ringwald K6YBV
916/806-9551
www.ringwald.com
--
Leader, The Fulton Street Jazz Band
www.fultonstreetjazz.com
--
The Boondockers (jazz and Comedy)
www.theboondockers.com

"The bottom line of any country is, what did we contribute to the world?
We contributed Louis Armstrong." Tony Bennett  --