[Dixielandjazz] T-bone story

[Bob Romans]

Too good of a story not to share!
Thanks Don Jones for this one!
Warm regards,
Bob Romans,
1617 Lakeshore Dr.,
Lodi, Calif. 95242
Ph 209-747-1148
www.cellblockseven2002.net
"If you must choose between two evils,  choose the one you haven't tried
yet."



Dan Barrett lives in California now, but when he was around New York he occasionally played at the Cornerstone, in Metuchen, NJ. One night there, a guy cornered him between sets, bought him a drink, and said, "I've been watching you for two sets now, and I think I've got it figured out. I'm a good observer. You change all the notes with just your lip, right?" Dan said, "Not exactly," and began to explain the overtone system to him. But the guy wasn't interested. "You change all the notes with your lips, and this thing." He made the trombone slide in-and-out motion. "The slide," said Dan. "Yeah, the slide. That's just there for show. You move it back and forth so everybody has something to look at, and when you want to get the audience all revved up, you move it back and forth real fast." With a straight face, Dan asked, "You figured all that out after just two sets?" The guy said, "I told you, I'm observant." Dan leaned toward him conspiratorially. "Look, the other folks here are not nearly as observant as you, and they're still mystified by the whole thing. I'll ask you to keep it a secret, so you don't blow the magic for the others, okay?" The man smiled wisely and shook Dan's hand. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me." Dan returned to the bandstand and made sure to move his slide back and forth real fast on the next set.