[Dixielandjazz] 3 or 4 piece bands

[Bruce Stangeland]

Gary,

I've played in a trio for about 8 years.
We have a reed player for the lead instruments (clarinet and alto asx),
a string bass player who also plays piano and sings,
and me, a banjo and tenor guitar player who assembled the tune book.

We play trad jazz, show tunes, rags, gospel, and even a polka or two.
On July 22nd we're playing in the Officers' Club at the San Francisco Presidio
It will be a reception for the 41st National Exhibition of the California Watercolor Association.
Our venues have included a wedding, crawfish boil, fundraiser for hurricane Katrina victims,
birthday parties, church events, retirement homes, openings of art shows, lodge dinners, and a crisis support center.

No one asked why we came with only 3 musicians.

One advantage with having so few instruments is we all get to solo (on almost every tune) and everyone can hear each instrument.

It's also much easier scheduling for only 3 people.

Cheers,
Bruce Stangeland
Berkeley banjoist
------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 08:27:18 +0200
From: Gary Kiser <gary at kiser.org>
To: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Just wondering
Message-ID: <4C3812C6.9030409 at kiser.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

On 10/07/2010 04:40, lovethatbass Captain Bass wrote:

> > has anyone here on this group ever played with a 3-4 piece dixieland band. My band is reorganizing and we eliminating a couple of musicians do to there attitudes. This is what we are coming up with Drums, Tuba, Trombone and a banjo player or keyboard player/ We are just so tired of putting up the slf serving attitudes that we are dealing with. I know a dixieland groups have much more. But I am just having not a good time dealing with impossible musicians.
> > Kirk
> >    
>   
Well, you kept the tuba.  That is a great start.

As the trombone is the only 'lead' instrument, there is a lot of 
responsibility on him/her.  If he/she can hold his/her own with melodies 
and soloing, I don't see any problems with the lineup.  Unless you are 
doing a tribute band (A Hot Five/Seven band needs a cornet; a Bechet or 
Goodman band better have a reed), don't worry about the line up.  It it 
works, if it swings, go with it.

All the best, Gary

Gary Kiser
34, rue du Pr?sident Wilson
63100 Clermont-Ferrand
09.53.99.80.73
06.63.60.11.44

>