[Dixielandjazz] Band Sound

[Stephen G Barbone]

While I agree with Jim and Larry that a band should have its own  
sound, there are many cases where band sound was not hurt by a sub, or  
even 5 or 6 subs.

Consider this case in point to which all of us who were in NYC in  the  
1940s, 50s and 60s will
attest . Eddie Condon's band. He appeared at Nick's and then at his  
own joint with a rotating group of at least 50 different musicians in  
his 7 piece band.  On any given night one would listen to a band with  
a Condon Sound that was comprised of Condon plus 6 different players  
from the previous night.

He used WBD, or Billy Butterfield, or Bobby Hackett, or Max Kaminsky  
etc.,  on trumpets, Lou McGarity or Miff Mole, or Munn  Ware or Brad  
Gowens or George Brunies, or Jack Teagarden etc., on trombone, Pee Wee  
Russell or Tony Parenti or Albert Nicholas or Peanuts Hucko or Bob  
Wilber etc on clarinet, Gene Schroeder, or Joe Buskin or Joe Sullivan  
or Art Hodes etc., on piano, Bob Haggart or All Hall or Sid Weiss or  
Bob Casey etc., on bass and George Wettling or Freddie Moore or Danny  
Alvin or Johnny Blowers etc., on drums. The only constant was Eddie  
Condon.

The personnel varied widely,but the sound was always "Eddie Condon's".  
Even today, many bands say they play "Condon Style". It differed  
somewhat with personnel on a given night, but it was always  
identifiable as a loose, swinging sound. The musicians were all  
competent jazz professionals and Condon just let them do their thing.  
They knew how to communicate with each other and that sound hit you  
like a blast of hot air when you opened the door to his joint on 3rd  
Street.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband