Playing Jazz

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

Where do we check it out?

Any good book store, Library, Amazon......
As far as the rest of your words, I am confused why you would play with what you call "A really bad band".
I guess I'm pretty confused about many of your statements, Richard. How can you sense that they're using you as a "scapecoat" and be worried about "letting them down" at the same time?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Any good book store, Library, Amazon......
As far as the rest of your words, I am confused why you would play with what you call "A really bad band".
I guess I'm pretty confused about many of your statements, Richard. How can you sense that they're using you as a "scapecoat" and be worried about "letting them down" at the same time?

Look who just walked in.. Long time no see!

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Look who just walked in.. Long time no see!

Don't start.

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Any good book store, Library, Amazon......
As far as the rest of your words, I am confused why you would play with what you call "A really bad band".
I guess I'm pretty confused about many of your statements, Richard. How can you sense that they're using you as a "scapecoat" and be worried about "letting them down" at the same time?

Yes, you're right, I wasn't really making myself clear. I'm ashamed to admit that I was writing from work and I had quite a few distractions.
Really the story wasn't such a good one to start with. It was about trying to help a group of inexperienced players get through a couple of small time gigs. I identified what was going wrong in the band and suggested ways that these problems could be fixed. I think the guys in the band saw me as a bit of a threat and didn't seem keen to fix some obvious gliches in their playing - maybe they didn't want to face up to the problems. It's not always the best solution just to leave. I feel obliged to do the gigs. Anyway, as I said, it's not really much of a story, I was more interested in the lesson it had reminded me of about always looking into how one might improve one's own playing.
Gotta go... still at work. Naughty me!
Sorry for this muddled up little story. I'm so embarrased that I'm going to use a face!
Please world, forgive this little slip up.

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

I guess I'm pretty confused about many of your statements, Richard. How can you sense that they're using you as a "scapecoat" and be worried about "letting them down" at the same time?

Well, we have a practice tonight. I'll tell them if the intonation and groove are not happening. Remember that these are not evil people, but they are looking elsewhere to place the blame for why the band isn't working. I'll do the gig on Sunday (and maybe the next one), but I'll tell them that I'm not carrying the can if they can't see the real picture and I'm not wasting time turning up to practices where problems aren't addressed.
Call me Mr Hard if you will!

[Paul Warburton]

Richard, call me "hard" if you will, but personally I wouldn't involve myself in a situation that appears to be as negative as this seems to be. To me music is an intimate personal exchange of communication....being positive in terms of the music and the personalites involved is, IMO, huge.
Your situation sounds just plain negative to me.
I'd try to find another group of players.

[Richard Prowse]

Thanks for your concern Paul.
I've got to admit that the practice went better last night - in a simple way. The intonation was better, as was the groove. Unfortunately it all unravelled a bit on the last few tunes, but the good news is that my hands got really sore. There's something about playing the bass guitar that seems to agravate my hand injuries, whereas the double bass is much kinder on them. So obviously my days of playing the bass guitar are over, and since this band doesn't like my double bass...
I have my ticket out.
Freedom.

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

Unfortunately it all unravelled a bit on the last few tunes, but the good news is that my hands got really sore.

That's the good news?
Please, don't tell us about the bad.

EDIT: Kenny, I need some help in here.

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

That's the good news?
Please, don't tell us about the bad.

EDIT: Kenny, I need some help in here.

Actually life's looking up and the hands feel a little better today.
My mother, and her sister, both suffered from arthritis so it's actually a bit of a scary point with me at the moment but, hey, life's too short...
But back to jazz...
I watched a short video of Carol Kaye. She implied that she didn't like scale players and that the real jazz players picked their notes from the upper partials of the chords. I hope I haven't misquoted her. How do you make note choices when you are soloing?

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

Actually life's looking up and the hands feel a little better today.
My mother, and her sister, both suffered from arthritis so it's actually a bit of a scary point with me at the moment but, hey, life's too short...
But back to jazz...
I watched a short video of Carol Kaye. She implied that she didn't like scale players and that the real jazz players picked their notes from the upper partials of the chords. I hope I haven't misquoted her. How do you make note choices when you are soloing?

Richard, I took Kenny's advice and read through that thread. To be truthful and you know it as well as anybody here, it reads like something outta "One Flew Over......"
I won't be involved in something like that.
I will answer your question to the best of my ability.
I don't make note choices per se when I'm soloing. I try to play melodies that sound good to me that fit with the chord changes within the structure of the tune. I don't think much about it....if it sounds good to my ears I play it....if it doesn't I don't.
IMO, IME, YMMV and WRGAF. (four things I've learned to include in my posts when I sense weirdness on the horizon).

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

That's the good news?
Please, don't tell us about the bad.

EDIT: Kenny, I need some help in here.

Paul, read Richard's 'Down Here' thread in the Bull Pit. All of it! Then ask me again..

I just don't know where some people find the time and still go out and make a living!

For jazz and musicians, the less said, the better. Do your talking thur your Axe, period. Then, speak when spoken to. Things will go a lot smoother. If you don't like the Gig and don't have to suffer thru it for the money, then Quit! Who's holding a gun to your head?