[Dixielandjazz] Big Bands & Charts -- Goodman

[Denny Schreffler]

 Does anyone remember Pete Barbutti's routine from the '60s or '70s in
which the the scenario is that the band boy for a big band leaves the
charts at the last gig -- no one has music except for the 4th trumpet
player who had his music in his case.  He then proceeds to play the 4th
tpt part (which is mostly one note reiterated in the rhythm of the piece)
to "It's Only a Shanty in Old Shanty Town" while trying to be hip and
happening.

I knew a Vegas player from the '60s who said that they would close their
books after the first couple of weeks of a show, and then for kicks, try
to play them a year or so later when the show was closing -- not even
close in some places.  The music had naturally evolved, over many
performances but just within a matter of months.

In 1968 I heard Count Basie and his band with Tony Bennett in Cincinnati
Music Hall -- fabulous, from my seat out in the big auditorium.  Less
than a week later I heard Duke Ellington and Orchestra in a small high
school cafeteria out in the sticks.  I was sitting very near, slightly
behind the band.  Nobody had their book open.  Everybody was "phoning in"
their part.  Cootie Williams was turned almost completely sideways in his
chair flirting with the verrrrry young, verrrrrry cute girl singer.

Many factors involved in the differences in the performances, but there
is a liability in performing as a living museum.

Denny Schreffler

Tucson

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: "Robert S. Ringwald"
  To: "Denny Schreffler"
  Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Big Bands & Charts -- Goodman
  Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2007 13:45:47 -0700


  Steve Barbone wrote:

  > Got the below off list from a pal of mine (great professional
  musician)
  > originally from this area (Mid-Atlantic USA), now leading a swing
  band in
  > Florida and using some of the original Goodman Charts.
  >
  > Cheers,
  > Steve Barbone
  >
  >> Hey Steve...
  >
  >> Some years ago I had occasion to talk to Pee Wee Irwin about the
  >> Goodman band
  >> and he said the trumpet section sat on their books... The only
  time they
  >> brought them out was if Goodman called a tune that they hadn't
  >> played in a long
  >> time... I suspect that it was the same with most of the bands
  >> of that era...



  Zeke Zarchy, the great lead tpt player with many of the big bands
  including the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band of WWII, told me
  this story.

  He joined Goodman the first date after they left LA where they had
  made such a big hit. I think it was in '35 or '36. The date was
  in Salt Lake City. Benny's younger brother was band boy. He forgot
  the charts on the train.

  The band played the first set without charts while Benny's brother
  went to get them.

  Zeke, who had never played with the band before, but had heard them
  on the radio, and on records, knew the lead tpt parts from hearing
  them.

  The thought of playing with Goodman's band for the first time,
  without charts seems inconceivable to me, but he did it.

  --Bob Ringwald




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