[Dixielandjazz] A Diverse Entertained Audience

[Beth Schweitzer]

Went to the same place today for the lunch crowd, with the same band.
The crowd was slightly smaller (no waiting for tables) but the band was
great - really enjoyed it. We stayed for three sets and enjoyed every
number. The crowd again was diverse both ethnically and age-wise and
everyone seemed to enjoy the music. 

Sorry we missed you Ginny - hope you're doing well. I hear you're
recovering nicely and even played a gig already! 

Thanks for heads-up on this Rich. It was nice meeting you, Larry and
Mike and hope to see the band again soon.

Beth


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] A Diverse Entertained Audience
From: Gluetje1 at aol.com


I know where to find audiences being well entertained by Dixieland. But 
generally here in St. Louis such audiences are not that diverse and you
know 
what I mean. So I was delighted last night to walk in a large restaurant

and bar at 6 p.m. and have to wait 30" for seating because a large young

and racially diverse crowd was listening to Dixieland.
 
 
Enough did leave (mostly young families) that we got seats, wonderfully
on 
the front row. And delightfully we watched an audience, attracted by the

first set, become glommed to the music for the even tighter second set.
A 
few of we oldsters had no problem "teaching" those who had wandered in
the 
norm of applauding solos. And pretty soon no one was leaving. The band 
was the Reunion Jazz Band. The music was tighter with a more solidified,

driving beat that what I had checked in a couple of their web samples.
They 
stuck, in this setting, with the tried and true tunes, a very smart
choice 
for the audience they had.
 
A couple of years ago, I had watched another Dixieland band, talented 
musicians all, slowly empty this same establishment. It could have just
been a 
coincidence. But, I suspect it was choice of repertoire. And those of us

who may know a few more tunes did not mind a bit that the tunes were 
familiar -- the music was hot! And I love to see young audience
building.
 
Ginny