[Dixielandjazz] Multilanguages, smoke, and more

[Jim Kashishian]

I just mentioned we have a tourist type audience, mainly, in one of the
clubs we play in a lot (on average 7 nites a month!).  Our band is Spanish,
and the language on stage is Spanish.  I always announce in Spanish, but at
this club often get a blank look from the audience!
 
Last nite seemed to be almost 100% French!  Tonight, who knows?  It seems to
change from nite to nite.  Lots of Dutch, German, Italian, & American
students come in. The kids (17 to about 30 years old, probably) blend in
well with the Spanish crowd who span an age of 17 to 90!  We have one
particular fan that is 84 now, and she is wonderful....even applauds for my
singing!   :>  
 
For an idea of what a crowd can look like at this club, go to
www.kashprod.com Click on the English flag, then on Canal Street.  Then,
click on today's date on the calendar. Click on the 21st of Jan to see
another shot at the same club.
(This calendar shows our "public" gigs, but not private affairs, naturally.)
I took the pictures from the stage on a typical nite.  
 
Forget your clear atmosphere!  A young kid smoking a pipe right in front of
the bandstand left just before we started to play (thank goodness!) last
nite.  He had been sending up huge clouds of nice smelling smoke, but it was
very heavy!  
Marijuana smells blend easily with cigars & cigs all around the place.
Yeah, I suppose it would be nice to have clearer air, but then too many
rules can eventually dry up the good thing going.  
 
Due to the language situation, I do very little talking in between tunes.
The occassional announcement of a title is my usual.  We go from one tune to
another over a 45 minutes set with practically no delay.  I choose the next
tune while playing, depending on the feeling at the moment.  Always try to
blend songs with breaks or interesting rhythms with the 32 bar "top to
bottom" type songs.  
 
There is little chance for dancing, as every single bit of floorspace is
covered by humans!  We do see the odd couple having a go, plus one lady one
nite grabbed our trumpeter & swung him around the joint.  Just lots of fun
with some good music tossed in.
 
It is still Christmas time in Spain.  The 3 Kings will bring gifts to the
children on the nite of the 5th of January, so every street in the center of
town (where this particular club is) are jammed every hour of the day, and
right into the nite.  We play 11pm to 1am-ish  (two 45 min sets).  When we
leave the club, nite clubs around the neighborhood are just opening (their
heavy time is from 1:30am to 5am!).
 
We don't actively go after the young crowd (a subject that seems to crop up
all too often here!), as they are just all over the streets.  The music can
be heard outside (we're not a quiet band!), and they flood in.  Obviously,
if there is no one  on your streets, or everyone is huddled into their cars,
then it is going to be more difficult to get them in the doors.  Not our
problem here.  Madrid is an "on the street" place.  Every afternoon between
6 to 8 is "la hora del paseo", and everyone of all ages link arms & go for a
stroll.  Interestingly enough, if one were to look at the obits in the
newspapers, they will find that the ages mentioned are mostly in their mid
to late 90's.   And, you may have noticed I said "afternoon".  Yep,
afternoon is from 3pm to 10pm.  Nite begins after your dinner (at 10pm!).
And, dinner is always with good red wine!
 
About time for mine, now.
 
Cheers, Jim