[Dixielandjazz] Improvisation, reply

[Bert]

Spot on, Marek,

People like Armstrong and Rollini, later also Hawkins and Goodman, all considered themself professionals, who wanted to do a good job. And didn't want to waste a take, so they prepared their solo's.

Check Armstrong's solo's on the F.H. record of Copenhagen, both takes are nearly identical. (except 3 notes) . There is hardly any improvisation in this record, most is Joe Jordan's stock arrangement, issued by Melrose, at some points doctored by Redman.
Bix seems to have had more difficulties in repeating himself.

Adrian Rollini's solo's on the 1926 version of San are also nearly identical on both takes.
What a risk Abe Lincoln took on his solo in the same number, both his solo's are totally different!
It proves what a great improvisor HE actually was. For these solo's alone, he actually deserves way more recognition in the jazz history books than he ever got.

Cheers!

Bert


What I know about those things comes from reading and listening - I've never tried to play an instrument.
Charles' discussion sounds right, but...  Before the advent of the tape recorder, any fault in recording led to another take, i.e. - waste of valuable studio time.  Therefore, musicians usually had to prepare their solos in advance to avoid flaws.  This is confirmed by musicians' reminiscences.  This applied to musicians who were great improvisers as well.  Take, for example, Muggsy Spanier's Ragtime Jazz Band, the recordings of which were reissued as "The Great 16."  Alternate takes which have been issued are almost identical to those originally issued.
According to contemporary witnesses, Freddie Keppard used to cover his fingers with a handkerchief while playing, so that others would not be able to copy his music.  This at least hints at a memorized way of playing.  He also at first refused to record for the same reason.

Only later, when tapes could be cut and spliced, musicians could afford improvising on a recording session.  Any flaws could be removed without necessitating many takes, and even where several takes were needed, this did not cause the waste of shellac or whatever material was used in the studios.
Cheers

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