[Dixielandjazz] More on festival distractions--Bobby Van Deusen

[Steve Gilmore]

Got you on that one Bobby. I had a simular experience. In the early
80's I played the opening for the " Scranton Steamtown Museum ". They
had us set up outside and everything was fine for a 1/2 hour until
they started up several of the steam engines at full blast whistles,
chugging, and all the related noises. We of course couldn't hear a
note. the good news is we got paid and could stop early.    Steve G.

On Fri, May 13, 2011 at 8:23 PM, Norman Vickers <nvickers1 at cox.net> wrote:
> To:  DJML and Musicians& Jazzfans lists
>
> From:  Norman Vickers, Jazz Society of Pensacola
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>
>
> Bobby Van Deusen is a talented pianist now living in Pensacola. I tell
> people that Bobby’s Senior Recital  at Ohio State was substitute pianist
> Sammy Davis, Jr.  Davis was performing in Columbus, OH when regular pianist
> became ill.  Bobby filled in  that evening and then Davis persuaded Bobby to
> complete the tour with them.  Bobby has worked in Nashville, on the
> Mississippi River steamboats and  as a guest-artist  performing Rhapsody in
> Blue for various symphonies. He is a “first-call” jazz pianist in the
> Central Gulf Coast area.
>
>
>
> Van Deusen refers to his work with Joe Occhipinti, local saxophonist and
> big-band leader who also works as a musical booking agent.  In some
> instances, as most musicians know, there can be an ambivalent relationship
> with one’s booking agent.
>
>
>
> Bobby relates his own “gig from Hell!” story!
>
>
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> From: Robert van Deusen [mailto:mrpiano at cox.net]
>
> Subject: Re: More on festival distractions--
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>
>
> Many years ago i was working a "Joe-job" at the airport.  (I can hear the
> local musicians' eyeballs rolling already)  An airline
>
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> had inaugurated new service in and out of the area and wanted to show off
> their latest and greatest aircraft (it was called a
>
>
>
> Dash-88, I have no idea why I remember that).  So we're set up in a corner
> of a hanger on the flight line at PNS on a cold and
>
>
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> rainy evening, playing tunes.  What nobody told us was that ocasionally the
> door would be closed on the aircraft and the #1 engine
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>
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> would be fired up to allow guests to oooh and aaah over the pretty screens
> on the flight deck.  The #1 engine was also conveniently
>
>
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> located about 30 feet from where we were set up.  So I can now say from
> personal experience that it's impossible to play
>
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> 'out of nowhere' with a turboprop  running nearby.
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> --end--
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