[Dixielandjazz] viva la difference ( re Mildred Bailey-Spokesman Review)

[Tony Davis]

On 25/04/12 09:48, Pat Ladd wrote:
> I think Bob is trailing his coat on this one. Of course that is not 
> what the fan meant. Nor is it what he would ordinarily get from a 
> `jam`.The perfection of a well drilled band is something we all 
> appreciate but there is always the excitement of an unrehearsed group 
> of COMPETENT MUSICIANS pushing the edge of the envelope Of course they 
> are not `unrehearsed` in the usual sense. They have probably played 
> every tune in the book.hundreds of times and know them backwards.
> If  it were not so that fans don`t mind the occasional imperfection no 
> one would go to see any other than absolute top line bands. This is 
> obviously not so or most bands would be out of business
>
Exactly, Pat - cogently and accurately expressed (as always).  I played 
Snag It in a 'guest session' at the Keswick Festival a couple of years 
ago.  There were two reed players in the line-up, one of them known to 
me, one I'd never met before.  I played the trumpet break solo as usual 
the first time around, but when I took it the second time the reeds came 
in with me, making it a perfect 3-part harmony break.  It was totally 
unexpected and certainly unrehearsed, but helped to make that 
performance of Snag It the best I've ever taken part in - and I know 
it'll never be repeated.  Those are the moments we live for, and savour.

Cheers,

Tony