[Dixielandjazz] Sharps & Flats

[Stephen G Barbone]

> John McClernan <mcclernan1 at verizon.net> wrote
>
> On Dec 28, 2011, at 11:46 AM, Stephen G Barbone wrote:
> Dear Pat & Bill:
>
> "The breakstrain separates two statements of the main trio theme and  
> is characterized by harmonic instability and alternating motives  
> between high and low instruments. For this reason, the breakstrain  
> is sometimes referred to as the 'dogfight'. The original nickname  
> for the breakstrain was evidently 'dog and cat fight' and many older  
> musicians still refer to that term."
>
> *	*	*	*	*	*
> That makes a whole lot of sense to me. And I LIKE that  
> term.......harmonic instability. I think I'll create some of that on  
> the next gig to see how the other guys handle it. Should be fun.

Careful John, your next jazz gig is probably in the Germantown  
Unitarian Church with Barbone Street for the New Orleans funeral for  
the year 2011. We have plenty of harmonic instability as it is. VBG

> Regarding how the fingers are placed to indicate flats and sharps,  
> that depends where you are in the USA. In Philadelphia most of us in  
> Dixieland show fingers up for flats, down for sharps and form a C  
> with thumb and first finger for that key. Mainly because most songs  
> we play are in flat keys and it is easier to do and more readily  
> seen by all band mates when we switch keys during a song. However,  
> in New York City the convention corresponds with the system you use  
> in the UK.
>
> *	*	*	*	*	*
> See how things change not only from region to region, but from band  
> to band? We play in the same circuit as Steve, but for us logic  
> dictates flats go down. Sorry Steve, that's the Glassboro State,  
> Temple U, PMA/UArts, Curtis education style. The only guys I run  
> into that reverse it are the NY guys (okay, okay, the Tony Soprano  
> guys as well), or guys like you who spent a lot of time in NY during  
> their formative years.

Well, maybe it's because I am a transplanted New Yorker. But then,  
just about all the jazz guys I play with in Philly indicate flats with  
fingers up. Anyway, my band always did it that way including the  
Curtis grads we played jazz with.

I think on our church gig together I will holler out the keys. VBG.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband