[Dixielandjazz] Band Loyalty

[Martin D. McKay]

Beth has good taste, but you left out Buffalo Ridge.

I don't have the money, time or health to really follow groups (wish I
could/did) so I got to what I can get to.  I'm more interested in the
interplay between them instruments than the soloists.  Now I do got hear Red
to hear Red but I go hear CCS  because they do what I think of as the best
job of presentation, playing and soloists.  Still, it is the combined
package I'm looking for.  There are a lot of groups that seem to be in a
"finding their way" process. They don't have things together.  Yes, we all
know the tune so we get through the statement pretty well, but them  things
are sort of catch as catch can.  Everyone seems to be trying to remember
what we agreed was going to come next and be thinking ahead rather than
concentrating on the solo or whatever they are playing now.

There was one band at Clearwater that had basically broken up and gone their
ways, but had the contract and got back together (basically on stage) for
them gig.  Well, even though they were all outstanding musicians and all had
even played together a whole lot, they couldn't quite find their grove.
Everyone worked hard and they played through to some fine solos and things
but it was obviously everyone for himself.  By them last number in the set
(their standard set closer) things fell together and the sun came up and
daylight shown upon them.  The number was good.   I had them scheduled for
another set the next day, but as much as I had liked them the year before, I
took a pass and went to see another band that I had never heard.

So, I guess my bottom line is, has them band found it's groove at whatever
their proficiency level might be.

My two cents worth.

Mart

Martin D. McKay, (Designated Listener) 

-----Original Message-----
From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
[mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com] On Behalf Of Beth Schweitzer
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 10:20 AM
To: Martin D. McKay
Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Band Loyalty

Just to add my two cents from a listener's point of view:

I think it depends on:

a) if the band plays and is known for intricate arrangements, or if they
play more standard arrangements that most professionals are familiar with

b) how much the band is identified by the individual players, and if the
replacements are for key front-liners or not, and how many subs there are

c) the caliber of the subs, of course

If I went to see the St. Louis Rivermen, and  Red Lehr was not there, or
Cornet Chop Suey and Brian Casserly was not there or the Nighthawks and
Vince Giordano was not there, etc., I would be highly disappointed.

By the same token, if Red was there but Noel Kaletsky was not, I would still
be disappointed, but depending on the replacement would still enjoy the
group, I'm sure. When Dave Tatrow replaced Steve Lilley at a recent festival
I was disappointed to not see Steve, and the chemistry was very different
from the usual Rivermen experience, but it was still very enjoyable and a
supplied a fresh twist on some of the numbers. But if both Noel and Steve
had been replaced I think it would start to feel like a pick-up band instead
of the Rivermen.

Note I said pick-up band and not jammers - two very different things. I
think of jammers as mostly amateurs who are sometimes quite talented but not
regular players. Pick up bands however are usually professionals who play
often in other bands but get together for some reason to play with a group
that maybe has never played together before. If they stick to pretty
standard arrangements and are capable of following a good leader, they can
sound as if they've been playing together for years and no one in the
audience is any the wiser.

And yes, Steve, there are fans who follow certain bands. I obviously follow
the Rivermen, and also Chop Suey and the St. Louis Stompers to some extent.
I will also go to a festival based on which bands are there. I will look to
see which festivals the Rivermen are playing and then choose from them based
on the other bands - Bob Schulz is a big draw for me, as are the Nighthawks,
and in the past, Buck Creek.

But back to Bob's original point - if all but the leader of a band were
subbed, I as an audience member would feel slighted unless the sum of the
subs was greater than the individual parts.

Cheers,
Beth Schweitzer
St. Louis




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