[Dixielandjazz] Jon-Erik Kellso & Friends

[Nancy Giffin]

Re. Thad's comment to Steve:

> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 13:11:12 -0800
> From: "Thad McArthur" <wthadmc at whidbey.com>
> Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Jon Erik Kellso & Friends
  [excerpt]
> These very fine musicians indulged themselves on I'll See You in My Dreams
> for 8+ minutes, but did very little to find anything in that great tune to
> evoke the magic that has made it the classic that it is.  If they played
> like that at the Landing in San Antonio, the place would have closed 25
> years ago.   I particularly like Howard Alden and Evan Christopher...

----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Stephen G Barbone" <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
>> Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Jon Erik Kellso & Friends
>> Here's another swinger from Kellso and the folks at the Ear Inn.
>> 
>> Jon Erik + Howard Alden, Guitar; Evan Christopher, Clairnet; Dan  Block,
>> Clarinet; Jim Fryer, Trombone; Chuck Redd, brushes.
>> 
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl9InXKHSmk

Hi Thad and Steve,

Gosh, if only it were that simple to compare musicians. Since musicians are
people not machines, they sound different depending on whether live or in
the studio (as recently discussed), and when playing live, it depends on the
other musicians, the stage, the audience, time of day, and other variables.

If musicians WERE machines, they'd be more like something electrical on a
variable dimmer switch with highs and lows. The Ear Inn looks like a mellow
place to hang out without musicians who are inclined to play in a casual
jam-session style compared to the more formal stage setting found at The
Landing. These same musicians would "crank up the dial" if performing at The
Landing.  (Evan played there from Dec. 1995 to Dec. 1998.)

Looks like the brushes are being played on a table top in this clip. Hmmm.
If you put Chuck Redd on a drum set, though, he'd really be able to drive
the band. What a great vibraphonist he is, too. Howard Alden is always
great, playing the right chords and keeping time; a marvelous musician. And
when Jon-Erik has that fire in the belly going, he can really cook!