[Dixielandjazz] Almost good players

[David Richoux]

Ken, as Jim says, the question is interesting, but it depends so much  
on the situation. In my case, I am a tuba player with almost 30 years  
experience in both semi-structured jazz bands (pretty much regular  
personnel, some arrangements for songs, but not too many with all  
notes written out, banjo - drums - bass rhythm section) and "pick-up  
bands" or substitute work with a variety of local bands, and a pretty  
good ear for playing songs I don't know well. I get a lot of favorable  
comments on my playing from many of the musicians I work with and also  
from audience members.

Having said all that - it really depends on all of the variables that  
makes a song cook or sink! If I am concentrating on keeping the chords  
and beat doing what they should, on a song I only heard once on a  
record, I don't necessarily want to take a solo chorus! On some other  
song a tuba solo would possibly be great and I will try to fit one in.  
It all depends...

Regarding tone and clams - stuff happens and nobody is perfect. If I  
am keeping the rhythm strong and miss one minor passing note I am not  
going to worry about it too much. If I am responsible for playing a  
note that is a major part of the arrangement - I worry about it! There  
have been times when the lead-off phrase is done in the wrong key (not  
usually my fault ;-) and the whole song is suddenly very challenging!  
The really good musicians know how to recover and make the song work  
without the audience even realizing there was a problem.

But I am rambling...

Dave Richoux
On Dec 14, 2008, at 10:35 AM, Ken Gates wrote:

> I'm just a listener, but am curious about this.  You performing  
> musicians probably come into
> frequent contact with players who are "almost good".  Players with  
> some skill but have a
> defiency in a particular area.  Examples that come to mind are--
> ...Good solos, but weak on ensemble.
> ...Good on harmony and ensemble, but weak solos.
> ...Poor rhythm or don't quite "swing" enough.
> ...Poor tone or too many "clams".
>
> There are others, but that's the idea.
> Here's the question---
>
> Is there one particular area that usually shows up for the "almost"  
> good player?
>
> Ken Gates