[Dixielandjazz] December 2011 BLUE NOTE excerpts
Bob Brodsky
rfoxbro at aol.com
Mon Dec 5 14:32:34 PST 2011
THE 'BLUE NOTE' is the 'voice OF THE SOUTH BAY NEW ORLEANS JAZZ CLUB-
SBNOJC meets 2nd Sunday Monthly 1:00 to 5:00 P.M. Knights of Columbus Hall
214 Avenue “I”, Redondo Beach, Ca 90277 - 310 397 6616
>From Bob Brodsky, Secretary / Historian
--
OKOM FANS:
HERE ARE EXCERPTS FROMTHE DECEMBER, 2011 "BLUE NOTE"
- THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE SOUTH BAY NEW ORLEANS JAZZ CLUB - REDONDO BEACH
PROGRAM
DECEMBER11, 2011, NIGHT BLOOMING JAZZMEN - CHET JAEGER
JANUARY8, 2012 BOB WHITE’S HYPERION OUTFALL SERENADERS
FEBRUARY 12, 2012, ROYALE GARDENDIXIELAND BAND
DECEMBER FEATURE SET
CHET JAEGER’S - NIGHT BLOOMINGJAZZMEN
It has been our annual holidaycustom to treat our membership with this marvelousgroup of musicians, under the direction of Chet Jaeger, founder and leader of this band. You will love thisband! Again SBNOJC presents the “NIGHT BLOOMING JAZZMEN !!!!!
NOVEMER 2011 FEATURE BAND
THE DIXIEDELICS JAZZ BAND
In the early 1980’s,Fullerton College pioneered, as part of theirexcellent jazz studies program, a traditional jazz course thatfeatured the LEMON STREET STOMPERS. which achievedconsistant recognition as one of the best college “trad”bands in the country.Richard Cruz developed the program. Students ofMr.Cruz were imbued with with a deep, and lastingappreciation of early jazz. This is where the DIXIEDELICS began. Continuingunder the leadership of Steve Kraus - leader & cornetthey have become a terrificband. The band included:Dave Kraus - reeds, Jerry Wheeler - tbn & vocals, Bob Aul - tba, Tim Catlin - drms, Bob Scarano - bjo and Kevin Ruggles - pno. It was our good fortune to have them and they have agreed to return. Yipppeeeee!!!!!
MUSICIANS NOVEMBER 2011
SBNOJC was fortunateto have the following musicians in November:
Bob Allen, Barry Anthony, Tyler Baillie, C.J. Sams, Larry
Cosgrove, Pete Dawson, Jerry Goodman, Jimmy Green, Gene Hill,
Jim Jones, Pete Kier, Tom Mann, Gene Marklevitz, David Newton,
John Norton, Roberto Pasquariello, Jerry Rothschild. Ray Siegele,
Richard Tucker, Ed Weiss, Kermit Welch, Robert Von Wendt, Bob
White, Jack Widmark, Larry Wright. Lucky Wright
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Thanks to Band Sponsors
A specialthanks to Judy Hasse, Izzie Dietsch, Larry Cosgrove
and Ken andMary Lunning forsponsoring the NightBlooming Jazzmen in December.
Sponsorships help bring quality bands toourclub. Next yearsbands will beannounced in theJanuary Blue Note.
SBNOJC Needs a Secretary
Bob Brodsky isresigning from theBoard of Directors effective March 2012. We will miss his help, support and ideas.We need a secretary/historian. If you are interestedin the Secretary’s position, please contact me via phone or e-mail.
Holiday Greetings
Another year has slippedby and once again it’s time to wish you allhappy holidays and a great and prosperousNew Year. Next year will be exciting for the club because we will celebrate our
50th anniversary at the September meeting.If you want to help with the planning, contact AnitaGold, at the next meeting or 949-
770-4690.
>From the Board of Directors, we thank you for all the help andsupport in 2011 and look forward to a new year of traditionaljazz.
Lets all keepJazz alive
Paul Goldman –President SBNOJCgoldperson51 at yahoo.com
EDITOR’S NOTE
Under the generalsubject of - “Bandsmanship”, theBlue Note is presentinga series of articles,containing suggestionsanda variety of thoughtson that general subject by a numberofexperienced musicians. The purpose of these articles isintended to provide listeners and musicians alike withthoughts and ideas which might be useful in improving ourmusical experience together. The December issue contains
a third articleby Jim Jones - Pete Kier, editor
BANDSMANSHIP - Part 3
by Jim Jones, a local musicianand bandleader
The goal of our club is to have fun through music. Anything which prevents our joy detractsfrom that goal. For musicians, this means always strivingfor excellence. Here are some gentlethoughts for set leaders, players and listeners that may spark conversation and help elevate what we do together. Thereare areas of musical performance that can enhance or lessen our enjoyment. Four of them are leadership, staging, dynamicsand conduct.
Leading a band requires knowledge, skill, preparation andsome audacity. The best leader allows his/her visionto be achieved without on-stage negotiation. Voicing specialinstructions briefly, then clearly setting tempos, downbeats andendings for all players, are givens. Any hand signals for solo or ensemble designations, breaks, tags, splitssuch as tradingfours or stop-choruses, instrument cutouts allowing smaller combinations,out-chorus and extended ending styles, must be communicated ahead of time. The order of solos is set or directed clearly and inadvance or by signal. Club officers also do best when they areclear in their instructions, scheduling and other arrangements.
Staging of the band can aid or hurt performance. Audience sightlines are to be clear of speakers and other obstructions. In the typical seven-piece trad-jazz band, the “front line” isenhanced by being just that - the trombone, cornet and reeds alongside each other, forwardand centered, in a slight arcto hearandsee each other better. The rhythm section is best whencohesive, sharing the beat, none dominating, able to see eachother, behind and in full support of the ensemble and soloists.The drumset need not be centered if it divides the rhythm players. Unused equipment - stands, chairs, amps, glassware,clutter - is placed out of the way. The sound system, the bestthat can be afforded, is well set up, tested and staffed.
All clubs’ stage lighting needs improvement, the best venuesmanaging to highlight the band to full advantage; the worst putting musiciansin a flat semi-darkness on the margins of audience room-lighting.
Band dynamicscan well be rethought in nearly all jazz clubs.“Too loud” strikes all players in improvisational jam-sessionenvironments. The reason is simple:each player strivesto hear their own instrument among all the others. To do so, wemustplay just a little louder. But when each one does that,“too loud” results. The cure is better listening with the purpose of producing a single balanced,organ-like sound at atasteful volume. A full swing-band-style drumkit is not necessary in this mix. Baby Dodds played teacupsand suitcase when he had to.
Conduct of both the band and the audience effectsthe performance. Since it’s well-known that “you perform whatyou rehearse”, band members are at our best when we act onstage as though every set were a well-paidgig before anaudience of critical listeners. This would include notattempting tunes beyond all players’ capability, not holding mid-tune conversations and disrespecting soloists in other ways, makingloose comments, onstage debating,last-minute adjustments, turning backs and other disrespect for the audience, and amateurish actions. Facing soloists, quietly andwithapproval, is one hallmarkof top bands. Curiously, thesame players who rail at a talkativeaudience may themselvesbreak these on-stage suggestions. And, yes, audiences willquiet down and listenwhen given goodreason to do so.
The concepts above may serve to elevate both our performances and our mutualenjoyment to attract and holdmembers.
SBNOJC 50th Birthday, 2012
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President Paul Goldman 310 293 2910
& Blue Note Assist. goldperson51 at yahoo.com
Vice President Jerry Goodman 310 320 0009
Treasurer Anita Gold 949 770 4690
Secretary Bob Brodsky 310 937 1811
& Historian rfoxbro at aol.com
Blue Note Editor Pete Kier 310 397 6616
& Music Dirctor
Assist. Music Dir.
Earl Newton
310 829 978
General Consultant
Bob Allen
323 291 5686
Publicity & Promo
Bob White
310 376 2591
Raffle Tickets
Yvonne Mitchell
714 528 1534
Snack Table
Polly Goodman
310 320 0009
(Past President)
Larry Cosgrove
310 645 9361
Raffle Prizes
Ann Norton
310 831 3525
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