[Dixielandjazz] Play The Melody!

[Phil Wilking]

YES! Play the straight melody at least once.

Variations on a theme are a time honored technique of the best (as in Bach 
and Mozart) musicians, but how can the usual listener know what the theme is 
unless you state it first? And even worse (from the view of some 
"musicians"), how can the listener judge the quality of the variations 
without first hearing the theme?

Yes, if you call "Avalon" or "At A Georgia Camp Meeting" (gotcha with that 
one, didn't I?) the New Orleans jazz fan will have the basic melody running 
through his head before you blow the first note, but we are a dying breed. 
To the majority of today's audiences the basic theme will be as fresh as any 
variation, so play it, even sing a second run through if it has lyrics, most 
audiences today are used to songs rather than straight instrumentals.

Phil Wilking

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

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Eric Holroyd" <eholroyd at optusnet.com.au>
>
> Should the lead horn lay down a solid melody lead for the other front 
> liners to embroider, or should he/she do the improvised solo thing and let 
> the audience guess what tune they're playing?
>