[Dixielandjazz] When to pack it in?

[Marek Boym]

Bob has already mentioned one such performance.
Unfortunately, in Nice and the Hague, I heard great musicians who
could not play anymore - Barney Bigard, who sounded (and looked) just
like a relic from the pst, and Jabbo Smith in the Hague.  At least,
Bigard could still play, but I felt awful seeing other clarinet
players on stage playing sown to him.  Smith could hatdly blow, but
not make a coherent statement.  He could hardly sing, too.  But both
got the big star reception from the public.

There were others, too, but not as pitiful.  At least one of them got
the message, stopped playing, and concentrated on arranging from then
on.
Cheers

On 23 January 2011 23:18, Tony Pringle <tonypringle at comcast.net> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> This is a subject that has been on my mind a lot lately. Part of it started
> after hearing a band which was a nice little band and I hadn't heard them
> for a few years and then I did. They played not so bad, but the energy was
> gone and tuning was not quite right, in fact I don't think they did tune up,
> but just pulled out their horns, blew a few notes, went to get a beer, then
> sat down and started playing and it wasn't good. All I could think of was
> that i hoped I packed in it before I get to the point where the music is no
> longer good.
>
> Seeing some of the comments from others I was reminded of a very sad time.
> It was just after I had moved to USA probably late 1967 or early 1968. My
> wife used to watch the Herb Alpert show and called me in to watch telling me
> that Louis Armstrong was on next. I hadn't heard Louis for quite some years
> and I sat down to enjoy the experience. It was awful, he could hardly play
> at all and fell back on singing. I just sat there and the tears ran down my
> face,
>
> At that time I made my wife promise me that if she ever felt hat my playing
> was not up to some reasonable standard she would either throw my horn away
> or give it to the Salvation Army.
>
> I think I still feel that way. I would rather stop playing and have the
> memories of all the good times that I have had with my bands. This music has
> been a joy for me since about 1954 - 57 years is pretty good!
>
> I don't think that I am there yet, but do feel that the day will come and
> hope I do the right thing.
>
> One man's opinion!
>
> Cheers,
>
> Tony Pringle
> Leader, New Black Eagle Jazz Band
>
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