[Tradjazz] The gig - First night 2000 - NYC

[Steve Barbone]

I've been threatening Bruce McN to tell this story and now here it is:

Cheers,
Steve Barbone

Back in 1999, Pete Pepke (trombone) and I were working a lot of gigs
together. Early in the year we were booked to play the millennium New Year's
Eve for Long Green. As you may remember, bands were getting booked early and
often as the expectation for all sorts of celebrations took hold.

Lack of reservations at this very posh restaurant forced a cancellation in
October and we were paid $100 each as a cancellation fee. We were
immediately rebooked at another posh restaurant for even Longer Green. That
one cancelled on December 27 and we were each paid $175 as a cancellation
fee. (Smart band bookers had gotten some of the money up front) OK we
thought, we'll sit home this year, for $275.

But Pete, who loves to play, contacts Bruce McN who, lo and behold, had
booked a bunch of bands through his Muskrat Productions agency and was
still short Dixieland musicians for First Night 2000 in NYC. Time 9 PM to 11
PM, at the Bronx Zoo outside - 6 piece Dixieland. Needs, clarinet and
trombone. Would we do it?

We agreed and drove to Central New Jersey where the banjo player (forget his
name) fed us dinner at his house and then drove us to Bronx Zoo. We report
to heated Bus where we change into Summer weight striped jackets. We had
been warned in advance about this so I wore polar fleece under my white
shirt. Tuba player arrives (forget his name) and claims his jacket. We note
that remaining jackets are size small.

So far, so good, the 4 of us are all experienced Dixieland players so we are
happy. Then drummer arrives. He is dressed like the deer slayer in black
leather, fringed jacket, and black leather flared pants. He is much too big
to fit into either remaining jacket. OK, dress as you are, what the hell.
Pete asks him if he is a Dixieland drummer? "Nope." Pete also notices long
sideburns and asks him where he has played recently. "I just got off the
road with an Elvis impersonator." How did Bruce hear of you? "He got me from
the AFM local 802 pool of available musicians. Oh, Oh.

Then he catches his pants leg on a sharp edge in the bus and rips the inside
seam from knee to crotch. No thread, but helpful coordinator lady has four
safety pins and pins him closed.

Then trumpet arrives. He is very thin and tall, wearing a long overcoat, a
Dizzy Gillespie beret, shades, and a Dizzy goatee. On his arm is tall, thin,
pale, good looking girl in a Vampira sort of way. Can't fit into striped
jackets either so what the hell, dress as you are. He is also an 802 find.
Do you play Dixieland? "Nope". What then? "Bop" (who'd have guessed that)

Ah well, at least 4 of us know what we are doing.

We start by the Seal Pool. It is 30 degrees and we decided to play
"Indiana". I'll take lead, I tell trumpet and you listen through first
chorus, then play the bop tune Donna Lee which was written over the same
chords. "What key?" he asks. "F". Pete says to drummer, play 4/4 swing.

Seals, go crazy barking out of tempo and rushing around pool. Audience likes
it though. Zoo was all lit up with Christmas lights and a sight to behold.
We move to close to pool and get splashed before retreating. We curse Bruce
(good naturedly) for putting us on this crazy gig.

As the night progressed, we moved to the Elephant/Tapir house. Folks love
us, animals ignored us and then to the Ape House. Folks loved out but Apes
go crazy so we move back to Seal Pool. Seal bark out of tempo again and than
a marching band with drum majorettes passes by. So we stop for a few minutes
and just oogle the girls who get splashed by seals.

By 11 PM, we were cold, but happy as trumpet player had excellent ears and
as Pete and I alternated with melody line, trumpet heard the chords after
first chorus and we were able to play the normal war horse tunes and some
others familiar to the audience with trumpet playing credible counterpoint.
Drummer also turned out to be excellent. And though I forgotten who the
banjo and tuba were, McN uses them often and they were Excellent.

One thing I did vow though, as my fingers were freezing. No more outdoor
gigs after mid-October and before May 1st.