[Dixielandjazz] Band loyalty

[Bert Brandsma]

This is an interesting topic.
The problem has several points of view. 
- Having musicians play exclusively in one band only works if the band has enough gigs to offer. 
- Jazzclubs that want bands without subs, should start with paying bands professionaly.
Both matters are kind of utopia and always have been so.
The reason why even name leaders like Benny Goodman had a different band every few months lies partly in the unstability in employment, I think.They might have had regular dates for a while, but then suddenly there was a time with nothing.
You can't expect professional musicians to do nothing when the band has no work.
Then there is another matter, some musicians get bored after playing too long in one band, so for people like that it is healthy to some degree to change.
Building really a good band with people like that is very difficult, so a band leader has to be carefull with whom he wants to work.
Playing exclusively in one band might work for amateurs, not for pros, I'm afraid.
Kind regards,
Bert Brandsma

> From: cellblk7 at comcast.net
> Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:43:18 -0700
> Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Band loyalty
> CC: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> To: mister_bertje at hotmail.com
> 
> Gingerly stepping up onto my pedestal...
> This bothersome topic has been running through my mind for a long time.
> It's gotten to the place where bands are hired by jazz clubs to perform for
> their monthly sessions, and when they get there, 3,4,5 subs are in the
> "name" band. Is it just me that believes when a band is booked, it should be
> the regular members of the band? I remember once when a music director 
> booked a
> band to perform at the Pismo Beach session, and only the leader was there
> with all subs...the music director said "where's the band I booked?" (that 
> band will
> remain nameless...if you want to know, email me privately)
> In this day of great and talented musicians, it's always been my unspoken
> belief that loyalty to ones band is primary. Sidemen in a band should be
> able to accept gigs with other bands only if THEY'RE HOME band isn't booked 
> the
> same time. Accept a gig with the stipulation that they will play the gig
> unless they're band gets a gig in the meantime, and it's their loyalty to
> their "home band" that wins.
> A band has a certain reputation and the booking club rightfully, in MHO,
> should hear THAT band. The band won't sound the same unless it's a jam band
> only...arrangements disappear if there are subs. All of the jazz societies
> Cell Block 7 performs  have their own jam sets and I don't feel that the 
> guest band
> should be limited to jamming and not performing like they're expected.
> Of course there are always emergencies that arise, but the quality of
> performances, I believe, suffer even  when the very best subs are hired. 
> Northern
> California is suffering a glut of great musicians who I am really honored to
> have in Cell Block 7 as subs if need be, but as a leader I feel handicapped
> when I have to worry about getting it right when on stage.
> Semper Fi...
> Ducking for cover in Lodi.
> 
> Warm regards,
> Bob Romans,
> 209-747-1148
> 1617 Lakeshore Dr.,
> Lodi, California,95242,
> www.cellblock7.biz
> "Puritanism - The haunting fear
> that someone, somewhere,
> may be happy."
> 
> 
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