[Dixielandjazz] Rushing

[Phil Wilking]

I play tenor banjo and ballroom dance. For me, strict tempo is a must. I try 
to sit to the left of the drum so that I can try to hold down the one I know 
who rushes badly. I have indifferent success, but I try.

I was immensely impressed many years ago when I went to my first ballroom 
dance competition (in San Antonio, Texas).
There was a live big band playing all the heats. This is extremely rare, 
records are much less expensive and easier to control: each group of 
contestants in a given dance must have the same music at exactly the same 
tempo.

During an intermission I went up on the bandstand to look over their setup. 
There was a stapled together set of notes on the snare drum.

The band leader had given the drummer a detailed list of the order of titles 
and dances (tango, waltz, etc.) to be played, how many times to play each, 
and the exact measure per minute to play each one. And they did it very 
well. I have not seen it done again in 20 years.

Phil Wilking

Those who would exchange freedom for
security deserve neither freedom nor security.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis" <larrys.bands at charter.net>


> Drummers can wreck a bands tempo and he is probably the most important 
> time keeper but certainly not the only one.
>