[Tradjazz] Gerry Mulligan

[Bruce McNichols]

Steve & Trevor,

I can't truly explain why I like one thing, and not another.  Can anyone?   Yes, I know that when the rhythm section seemingly disregards the pulse that I worship, that band will probably lose me.  That's an easy one.  It's all those bands that ostensibly play my kind of music.  Those are the ones that I may adore, or I may knock.

Dick Rath, the wonderful bone man who played with us often in our early days, had a theory.  He said, if the rhythm section is good, then the musicians are more likely to rise to the occasion and the audience is gonna like the band.  They won't know why, but they will.  Of course, he was right on.  Musicians are likely to say that it feels good.  It's that feel that I'm looking for, and I too, say that it starts in the rhythm section.
  Playing Devil's Advocate, I must say that I fully understand that that way-out modern stuff, I sometimes refer to, may well be someone else's cup of tea.  It just ain't mine, dat's all.
I have utmost respect for those with good ears.  I've often mused that a sideman who knows a hundred tunes, is probably not as good as one who knows no tunes, but has good ears.  That way, he (or she) knows all the tunes!  
  Of course, that isn't entirely true.  Many of the Dixieland standards have tricky arrangements that may include unexpected breaks, interludes and the like.  AND if the person who knows 100 tunes, happens to know the 100 that "I" play, then that's pretty damned good.
I've had the pleasure of working with many a musician who doesn't really know the territory, yet is able to catch not only the chord changes, but those tricky breaks etc.  

Many musicians I've worked with are true from-the-gut players.  Some of them have little technique and finesse.  Many of those, I prefer to other, much more well-trained and technically facile players.  Devil's Advocate again:  By no means is that to say that all from-the-gut players are preferable to all well-trained players.
  As for playing by ear, vs. formally trained - I learned early on, the simple fact that I want it all!  
My ideal old-time jazz player, is one who was formally trained and yet, plays from the heart.

~~~
Of all the musicians I've had the pleasure of working with, one stands above all else.  He is Herb Gardner.  Herb is clearly the perfect combination of heart & mind playing.  The guy is a primo all-around musician.  His formal training, his love of our music,  and his extensive experience has resulted in a guy who can blow most anybody off most any bandstand.  He can take a complicated chart and sight-read it with apparent ease.  Beyond that, he is a talented composer/arranger with dozens of tunes to his credit.

Herb is often thought of as a trombone man, but it sometimes seems as if he more often plays piano - and why not?  He's wonderful on any instrument.

Herb has been a key member of my Smith Street Society Jazz Band for more than 40 years (my my).  Among other things, he has scored complete orchestral arrangements for Jazz Band & Orchestra.   Further, THEY SOUND DAMNED GOOD!

If you haven't heard him in action, do yourself a favor, and do so.  This guy is a phenom and it seems as if he always was.

~~~
I guess we all know the old line about reading music - "I can read a little bit, but not enough to hurt me much."  It's a clever line, but in reality, if ya got jazz in your heart and soul, formal training can only help.

So there!

McN


      To: <tradjazz at list.okom.com>  
      Subject: [Tradjazz] Gerry Mulligan  
      Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2006 20:31:43 -0500  
      From: Steve Barbone <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>   
     
So, McN and Trevor also like Mulligan?

And why not, the man was playing polyphonic counterpoint which is what
Dixieland is. :-) VBG

And like Pee Wee and Bix, and some others of us now playing the genre, he
used a few more modern chords than the originals.

And why not? Shouldn't Dixieland evolve?

Hey Bruce; Interesting about Bix's influences. Since he couldn't read, and
was self taught, he relied upon his "EARS" and what he heard. Just like you
and me. Hey, maybe that's what's needed with more of today's players? Like
the GREAT ONES were all untrained ear players, at least at first. E.G.
Louis, Bechet, Bix, Baker, and even Parker who kept saying his version of
the music was something he was hearing, but hadn't yet figured out how to
play until Gillespie, another "ear" man came along.

And Monk? He always wanted you to learn his tunes by ear, not by reading the
dots and he would not give you the music unless you were stymied.

Too much theory/reading will screw you up. :-) VBG.

Cheers,
Steve  


     

      To: <tradjazz at list.okom.com>  
      Subject: Re: [Tradjazz] Gerry Mulligan  
      Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:12:27 +1100  
      From: "trevor rippingale" <trevrip at bigpond.com>   
     
Steve and Bruce :
                 Hurray for breadth of vision, both musical and otherwise. 
"We pass this way but once", as some great person once said : no second goes
 
at it !.
                      Trevor.

     


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