Re: Buckeye jazz

[Bobbie Giordano <bobg@xxxxxxxxx>]

At 02:00 AM 3/8/2004 -0500, George Brooks wrote:
>I wasn't at Buckeye last year, but the year before that I played my one jazz
>tune at the Jazz Cabaret.  If the same format is going to be followed this
>year, it gives people the completely wrong impression to call it a jam.  To
>me, at least, a jam involves a number of musicians soloing on a given tune.

I agree, fellow nightowl! :)  Actually, George, it was a little looser last
year, maybe because Allen Radcliffe-Holmes was basically in charge.  2 or 3
mics were set up most of the time and 2 or 3 harmonicists would play together
on most tunes.  At least, that's how it went towards the end of the evening.
I was in the blues jam for some of the early part of the jazz jam.  It did
follow similarly to the previous year[s] when the players that were up there
stayed up there for the whole song, but at last year's BHF, another player
[or two] would sometimes go up and join a player that started out the tune.
And, sometimes, a person would even sit back down after playing a bit and
another might go up in their place.  So, you see, it was a bit more casual
and less structured.

You know it had to be if they'd let me up to sing! ;)  Bob Beck was playing
Willow Weep for Me [on his Renny, of course! :)] and I slipped up there to
show him how to forget the words to a song you've know most all your life!
Hoo Boy!  It was fun, though!

Looking forward to seeing you there this year, George!  If I can afford it,
I'll be there for my 9th year in a row [Wow! hard to believe!] and I hope to
catch some of your teaching session, too!  Best of luck with that, friend!!

>It was more a series of individual performances than a jam.
>
>I do not think one format is better than the other.  I am just wondering
>which it will be this year.

I agree, it was like that a couple or more years ago, and I favor a more
informal event myself... for a few reasons.  One is that I like to hear more
variety at a jam where you know there are dozens of able players who could
entertain everyone.  In the cabaret format, some of the players will get up,
play the whole tune [and jazz tunes can tend to drag on, anyway, as we know,]
but when finished, will go right back to the end of the [very short] line and
be right back up in a couple more numbers.  There's only so much room on the
stage, so others who might be inclined to go up stay frozen in their seats
figuring there's no room for them, and just a few players end up hogging the
night.  That's an unfortunate aspect of this format.

When pairs or trios are encouraged to play together, it spreads the wealth a
little more and makes it more interesting, I think.  It allows some folks to
play together who may never have done so and sparks may fly and ignite the
room, and that seems to encourage others to get up and try to find the light
themselves!  It makes it easier for a player who has trouble with a piece to
step down, too, and save a little face, without having to play out the whole
tune in misery [for the player and everyone else!]  The trainwreck doesn't
have to be drawn out into a bad memory for all, either!!  ;)

But, mainly, I just feel a more casual jam is more "user friendly" for all
considered, and a better sense of conviviality evolves over the whole event.

Y'all really should try to get to Buckeye... it's really an incredibly happy
time for all and is run by one of the friendliest, hardest working harmonica
clubs in the country!  You'll love it!!

Yikes, it's late!  :)

Peace and music,
Bobbie