[Dixielandjazz] Order Of Solos

[Don Ingle]

Robert Ringwald wrote:
> IMHO- the Clarinet always taking the first solo is really boring and lazy.  
>
> We always break it up with most any instrument taking the first solo.  
>
>
> --Bob Ringwald K6YBV
> rsr at ringwald.com
> Fulton Street Jazz Band
> 916/806-9551
>
> Check out our latest recording at www.ringwald.com/recordings.htm
>
> My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much
> government.  -Thomas Jefferson
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IMHO I both agree and disagree a tad with you on this. It depends of the 
tune, the tempo, the players you have to work with and a few other factors.
On the bands I have worked with the choice came down to many of these 
factors. I would not call it "boring" if the clarinet player was a Matty 
Matlock
or Bill Wood whose playing always came with both taste and the best 
sound possible. I'd love having them up first and  no complaint.  
That's  not always the case.
We got around this  'first up' problem by either splitting choruses or  
inserting another player in for the release , therefore making more 
variety yet still saving some brass chops if it came after a barn burner.
It is the better bands that work this out in a way that keeps things 
interesting, but does not hold any lock-step rule about 'who's on first' 
-- that best left up to Abbott and Costello!.
But if having the clarinet player take the first chorus is boring, why 
is not the cornet/trumpet lead on every opening ensemble of the standard 
upbeat tunes also boring? It may not be, but then how often does a trad 
band get away from it? Not very I suspect.

Don - always the old troublemaker  - Ingle