[Dixielandjazz] Musical non-readers, can you add to the list?

[Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis]

There is another side of this too Bill.  That's the audience.  So far I have 
rebuffed the idea of playing for the local jazz club because they are not 
nice to bands that read.  I have found that it's safest to have charts but 
then the problem becomes the older jazzers just don't want to (or can't ) 
read.  These are the guys that will tear your socks off while others just 
play notes.

So far the transition to charts hasn't totally taken place but like I said 
before I think that my age group is on the border line and when we go there 
will be very few players who can improv and know lots of tunes.  I think the 
border line and transition point is the baby boomers and I came along just 
before then.
Larry
StL
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <BillSargentDrums at aol.com>
To: "Larry Walton" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
Cc: <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2008 1:25 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Musical non-readers, can you add to the list?


> The very first thing I ask any musician who expresses an interest in 
> working
> with one of my bands is:
>
> "How good is your sight reading?"
>
> If the answer to that one isn't correct, the rest is a moot point in all 
> but
> a very few exceptions.
>
> Things aren't like they were when I was coming up, where everybody knew 
> the
> tunes, could play them in any key and actually had ears. That was what I 
> was
> accustomed to.
>
> Today, I need some music, chart or lead sheet, in front of 99% of the
> players to make things work. And they'd better work the very first time.
>
> In 25 years with my bands, we've only had 2 rehearsals, both before the 
> very
> first gig.
>
> They have to read the chart right when it's laid in front of them.
>
> I'm talking about big band and jobbing small groups, charts and lead 
> sheets
> respectively.
>
> Trad-Jazz bands can be a different animal, given the gigging frequency and
> how steady the personnel are. Sometimes lead sheets are neccessary.
>
> One more thing, about Buddy Rich not reading music... I don't buy it.
> There's a big difference between not being able to read, not reading well, 
> and  not
> wanting to read.
>
>
> Bill
> 414-777-0100
> BillSargentBands.com
>
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>
> Available at:  http://billsargentbands.com/recordings.htm
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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