[Tradjazz] IMprovising - George French

[Henred at aol.com]

Hello!
 
    George French was not a fraud. He knew he wasn't the  greatest banjo 
player, never represented himself as a jazz player,but  he knew how to charm an 
audience. If the audience was there to drink,  sing-along, and have a good time, 
George was the man to have leading the band.  If the audience didn't mind 
seeing the bandleader chug a pitcher of beer (and  the bandmembers didn't mind 
seeing him turn around and throw it up in the  back of the bandstand) so much 
the better. George worked hard at what he  did. He was also fun to work 
with-either as a leader or a sideman.
     George was a "sing-along" guy. I get the sense  that some tradjazz guys 
look down on the sing-along players as being less  musical and lower class 
than themselves. I guess some people just have to feel  superior to somebody 
else. There was even mention that some of the lead  banjoists at The Mustache 
couldn't cut it in tradjazz. I started playing at the  Boston Mustache in 1964. 
The lead banjo player was Carl Lundsford, fresh out of  Turk's band. Many of the 
lead players and the side players knew the traditional  tunes and played 
great rhythm. Rhythm is where it is.
    One of my favorite bands is "The Smith Street Society."  They play great 
jazz and sing-along. They also have fun doing it. All  good.
 
                                                                              
                  Henry  Newberger
 
   
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