[Dixielandjazz] Credibility

[Bruce Stangeland]

Elazar,

Thanks for mentioning that you played Gershwin with the Jerusalem 
Symphony. It gives me a chance to say I have enjoyed playing my tenor 
banjo in three concert series with the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra: 
Gershwin's "I Got Plenty o' Nothin'", Kurt Weill's "Three-Penny Opera", 
and William Grant Still's "Symphony No. 1, Afro-American Symphony".

It was great fun sitting with the other black-tie-wearing musicians 
trying to not loose count of all my resting measures.
The classically trained musicians said they enjoyed the sound of the 
banjo. Several even jammed with me before the concerts.

If you know of any other symphonic music scored for tenor banjo, please 
let me know. I'd like to expand my very limited repertoire.

Regards,
Bruce Stangeland
Berkeley banjoist

-----------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:19:55 +0200
From: "Ministry of Jazz" <jazzmin at actcom.net.il>
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Credibility
To: "DJML" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Message-ID: <GCEMKDJIDPOOIABFPAMCMEBNACAB.jazzmin at actcom.net.il>
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Shalom Jazz Fans,

Just a couple notes to chime into this chorus:

... (snip) ..........

For example, about 10 years ago, being new in Israel, I had the great
privilege -- being the only tenor banjoist in the country at the time -- to
be invited by the Jerusalem Symphony to play the banjo part, including a
brief solo, in Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess Overture". I did it, and it was a
thrill. Some time later, I was on a religious-oriented speaking tour in
Germany, and our German hosts, unbeknownst to me, billed me as "the banjoist
with the Jerusalem Symphony". I think this is exactly what Larry W and
others have been talking about, only it wasn't my fault. This led people to
expect who knows what ... a classical banjoist of international caliber? I'm
a pretty good player, but I have never had, nor is there such a thing as, a
steady gig with the symphony on banjo! I then had to set the record straight
at every stop on the tour. Oops!

Elazar
Doctor Jazz Dixieland Band
Tekiya Brass Ensemble
Jerusalem, Israel
www.israel.net/ministry-of-jazz
(02) 679-2537
050-723-3914