[Dixielandjazz] Tenor band

Sat Jan 19 12:02:59 PST 2008

Yes it was three tenors.  Some of the bands even if they had different saxes 
used pretty tight harmony.  One of the first things I learned when I started 
playing big band is section vibrato.

There's a sax player here that's pretty good and I was on a gig with him 
playing with a Mickey band from out of town.  He uses diaphragm vibrato 
which was an incredible clash with the rest of the section.  He just 
couldn't match the section.  The sound was different anyway.

I think it would be difficult to get the sound of the old tenor band today. 
Tenors sound different.  I had a Buescher  Tenor from 1923 and there was 
just no way to brighten it up like a modern tenor.  Even with tone boosters 
and a metal mouthpiece.  If you remove the boosters and use a rubber 
mouthpiece it transforms the tenor into a completely different animal from 
today's tenor that is built to scream.  Mellow is just out.

When I was a little kid I heard a tenor band and the sound was just 
different.  The group I heard from K.C. was pretty mellow too.  No metal 
mouthpieces.  Just listen to some tenor players from the 30's and you will 
hear the difference.  I liked the sound.

Today the tenor is a much more in your face horn with a lot more projection 
and power.  I seriously doubt that I could even get that 30's sound without 
changing horns, mouthpieces and reed.  I have heard a few older guys that 
come close to that sound.

A lot of the stocks were published simultaneously for tenor band as well as 
mixed sax section so you could take your pick.  Tenor bands could also play 
the other charts with Alto, Tenor, Bari or alto, alto, tenor or any 
combination of the three as doubles.
Larry
StL
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Charlie Hull" <charliehull7920 at sbcglobal.net>
To: "Larry Walton" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 7:07 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Tenor band

>I thought the term "tenor band" referred to ensembles using three tenors 
>and no other saxes, plus three rhythm, and usually one or two trumpets and 
>a trombone. These were popular on the hotel circuit. Because all three 
>saxes had the same range, the arrangements were pretty limited in terms of 
>key changes and such. If the saxes were able to sync their vibrato and had 
>good tones, they could sound pretty good, even though there wasn't much of 
>a spread in the harmony.  If their vibratos were out of sync, mudville.
>
> Charlie Hull
> ------------------------------------------------
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: AL LEVY <jazz_man at ix.netcom.com>
> To: charlie at easysounds.com
> Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
> Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 11:45:59 AM
> Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Tenor band
>
> My understanding of "Tenor Band" is that the
> Tenor Sax plays the lead part.
> =========
> Am I writing too much?
>
> The devil made me do it.
> Al
> Pianist, Composer, Arranger, Conductor, Teacher and Music Prep.
> Please visit me at
> http://alevy.com
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