[Dixielandjazz] Applause after solos

[Steve Barbone]

"Brian Harvey" <brer.rabbit at tiscali.co.uk>
> 
> I sent this to a classical-jazz enthusiast friend and he telephoned to tell
> me of a new populist movement in the UK.
> This apparently seeks to stamp out the practice of applauding jazz solos
> because they can spoil the first notes of the following solo.
> Whilst I agree with that to a certain extent, to have no feedback would
> surely be a sterilising process?
> Comments anyone?

Heh heh, several approaches that work for me are:

1) To begin my solo on a sustained high note till the applause dies.

2) Play loudly over the applause till it dies.

3) Pause before starting my solo for a bar or two until the applause dies.

I would hate to turn the audience off by getting anal about applause. In
fact, I often say before concerts or during them; "The more you drink, the
better we sound and the more you applaud, the better we will play."

Disclaimer: Artie Shaw disagreed violently with this view.

Personally I love noisy, smoky jazz club gigs the best. To bad so many have
disappeared here in the USA.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone