[Dixielandjazz] Jonathan Russell

[Steve Barbone]

Just finished 2 days of playing with 12 year old violinist Jonathan Russell
as our special guest. He is simply superb. Continually improving, not just
over the past several years, but since July 4 when we last played with him.
He now uses a full sized violin which must have cost more than a few bucks.

Besides songs on his tune list, we purposely played 6 songs he didn't know.
He knew them all halfway through the tunes. He improvised superbly on them.
We keep trying to figure out "What is Jazz?" The answer is simple, Music
that musicians like Jonathan play, is jazz. He is what it is all about.

Also played "Avalon" at about 260 beats per minute, like we used to at the
Showboat Casino in Atlantic City. Didn't faze him, though he usually plays
it more slowly. He tore through it, improvising all the way.

He requested 2 tunes which we played. One, "Besame Mucho" was a stunner.
Rhythm section put down a lovely Latin beat and the kid just made the tune
his own. If you other bands get to play with him, do this tune.

The other was "Puttin on the Ritz". That will be the cover and central tune
to a new CD that he is working on. I won't say too much about that except
that it will feature several different bands/musicians and will be titled
"Puttin On The Ritz". I think it will be superb and highly recommend it to
OKOM fans. No, I have no financial interest in it and am not on it, but the
musicians who are . . . are the cream of the crop.

Speaking about little "J" and OKOM. When I booked him for this gig, I paid
him a top notch fee and put his family up in a 2 bedroom suite. Like a live
in unit for relocating executives. I sincerely hope the festivals booking
him do likewise. If we do not pay him what he is worth, he will gravitate to
those musical genres that do. It is about time that "WE" make this music a
paying proposition so that we can retain the best musicians. Musos like "J"
can play any genre they want and when they have to eat, they will go where
the money is. Loving the music is not enough.

Audience reaction? Really fun to watch. Folks passing by stop for a moment
to hear the music, then do a double take seeing "J". Then drop their jaws
when J starts to play. Even the Amish families and children stop dead in
their tracks. Some who heard him on Saturday, returned on Sunday with their
kids who were wannabe violin players. Too funny because no one can believe
what they are hearing. Also funny because our old fart band these two days
had a 27 year old red headed female trombone player who besides playing up a
storm, is good looking, and sings to die for. And the black trumpet player
is icing on the cake. We destroy all the preconceived notions about who
does, or does not play OKOM. <grin>

Best of all, we make money playing OKOM.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone