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Well, as incredible as it may seem to friends across the pond, I have got my FIRST ever Dixieland gig next week. As this is something completely new to me I would appreciate advice on playing such music - what to do, and what not to do?


Jonathan "who mainly plays in orchestra and concert band, with occasional quintet gig"

Hi Jonathan!
Congratulations to your new job!
Best would be if they give you some material to listen to and play along. Start with playing the I and V of the chords in the good old oom-paahh style, and then making little musical connections between that patterns and some fills, if you feel comfortable. If they want you to play a solo, just play the melody of the tune. I think in trad jazz for the tuba, doing less is sometimes more. Don't be too busy, just keep the groove together with the banjo-player.

Gerd

Regarding playing a gig in an unfamiliar genre:

DrumJokes.com

• A New York drummer by the name of Joe was out of work and desperately searching for a gig. He went to the union office where they told him about plentiful jobs in Greece. "Greece?, the drummer said. The union representative replied, "Hey, do you want to work or don't you?".

So the man packed his bags and headed off to Greece. He was to meet up with an old guy by the name of Tarek at a small pub near the town of Perin. Upon his arrival, he located the pub but Tarek was nowhere to be found.

He tracked Tarek down later by phone. He said he needed him for a last minute wedding gig tonight at the Oasis hotel. There would be over 400 guests but unfortunately there wouldn't be time for a rehearsal. Tarek said, "Just show up with your drums and be ready to play." Well, the NY drummer wasn't that nervous. He he had played hundreds of wedding gigs back in New York and he was just happy to have some work.

Joe arrived at the hotel on time. The whole band was there except the band leader, Tarek. He set up his drums and patiently awaited for the old guy. Tarek finally arrived 5 minutes before they were supposed to go on. He frantically set up his music stand and raised his arm to lead the band. "Wait!, shouted the NY drummer, what are we playing?" Tarek looked at him calmly (knowing he was a professional drummer) and stated, "Just relax and give me strong backbeats on 7 and 13."

Hi! Be sure and pay close attention to leading tones, too! As a long time upright bass and Tuba player, I have learned to accent these notes, usually leading to beat one of the next measure! You won't see a lot of flat 5 chords called in dixie, but you'll have a lot of chances to lean on these juicy notes, just as you might in a march. Hopefully you'll have lots of written out parts with the changes written above the bar(s), and will be able to learn quite a bit via osmosis! Congrats, Al.

Neptune wrote:Well, as incredible as it may seem to friends across the pond, I have got my FIRST ever Dixieland gig next week. As this is something completely new to me I would appreciate advice on playing such music - what to do, and what not to do?


Jonathan "who mainly plays in orchestra and concert band, with occasional quintet gig"

Check this out...and take notes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMV8CW_x ... 1&index=14" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

JJ

Something not mentioned yet - depending on the line-up of the band, you might be "it" for keeping the beat steady, but you should work well with the banjo/guitar, piano, and percussionist (if the band has any.) Likewise, you may be alone in presenting the song and chord structure to the soloists and ensemble, so it is great to know the patterns typical of so many "Dixie" songs. There aren't too many!

Will you be playing from a "Fake Book," pre-arranged full scores or nothing at all? Since this is your first time it would be good to have some sort of a clue - even looking at the lead line or chord progression in a fake-book will help a lot. Any rehearsal opportunities before the performance? It is good to find out how the band works together before jumping in (but that doesn't always happen...) This is what you don't want!

Hey! Wait 'till you land a Mariachi gig! LOL! seriously, that video of "closer walk with thee" was a tasty example of your role in a dixie band! Remember, in the early years of jazz, Brass basses were it! Especially outside, or in larger venues! In those days Tuba/Double bass was a common double! In a "modern" jazz ensemble, Tuba is the Bass 'Bone players expected double, and the Upright guys/gals will carry an electric, or play electric and MAYBE double on Upright!Al.

Not many tubas in a Mariachi group - but the Bandas sure have them!


In a "post-modern" jazz band the tuba takes over from the string bass or guitar, plays a wild Matt Perrine or Marcus Rojas inspired bottom line while keeping the whole band going the right direction. Listen to Dave Douglas Brass Ecstasy, Spanish Fly, or the New Orleans Nightcrawlers...

I can recommend this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Building-Walking- ... 345&sr=8-1" target="_blank

It starts with 'root-fifth' lines and builds to much more. It's a nice course in bass line building. It is a string bass book, but it's all pretty general stuff.

Then, of course, a bit of critical listening to get the style.

Enjoy that gig! Ask if they like two beat or four beat. When playing four beat, accent beats two and four. Two beat lightly and politely, West Coast trad
style two beat with gusto. When all else fails shoot he drummer with a tranquilizer dart.

At any rate a musician able to provide the above link for a Dixieland primer displays great sense for comedy.

K

bloke wrote:Here is a fairly large dixieland primer: http://schools.polk-fl.net/dixieland/

Ya know,
I've worked (and work - present tense) with some jazzmen who are a bit put off by the term "dixieland". I used to think they were being a bit oversensitive, but I now believe I have begun to understand their p.o.v.

I understand their p.o.v., but...if you hear the beat, away down the street...it's "Dixieland". No matter
what you call it.

I'm not sure there's any distance at which you can hear the band, but not hear the difference between a real live jazz band and a Dixieland band going through the motions like one of those ragtime piano-playing puppets. And that's why I think musicians have nothing to fear from the music - your audience hears you, not the concept. But for sure, don't use that name.

Pike Place Market is *so* far away from South Rampart Street...

I've been a traditional jazz tubist since shortly after graduation (notice "traditional" instead of "Dixieland"...). Call it 15 years.

I played along with many albums to prepare and had taken solos occasionally in amateur big bands, and thought myself ready for my first gig. It was TERRIBLE. I was awful! Everyone was polite, but their eyes told the whole story - they were in physical pain.

Then, may favorite old cat (you must find a cat of your own, they are essential, and should have a goatee or soul patch, and smoke menthols over-hand) told me THE SECRET... learn the tune. Listen to the tune.

It's not the changes... in fact, different banjo players and pianists often disagree or use different changes from group to group for the same tune. Lock into, listen for, and complement the tune. Keep it simple - very simple. Practice playing songs and tunes. Know how "Struttin' with Some Barbeque" goes, so that if some clown wants it in G, you aren't really worried (just annoyed).

Finally, as you sit and learn these tunes, learn to sing through your horn. Meaning, if you can hear it, you can play it. Sit and just play songs you know. No paper, no Real Book, just "Yankee Doodle" or "Some Enchanted Evening" or whatever the heck you want, just learn to carry a tune with the tuba as your voice.

In the short run, see if you can get a set list, and a real book will give you a head start if they're all playing from one... then none of them are thinking of the tune anyway, probably; they're all looking at the letters. But you can best prepare by listening to good traditional jazz and playing along and singing with the tuba as your voice. And then rake in the bucks!

J.c.S.

bloke wrote:Here is a fairly large dixieland primer: http://schools.polk-fl.net/dixieland/

I see they have a music teacher -- wonder if they have a band?

and later wrote:... I find it difficult to think about the music or even the repertoire of artists such as "Bix Biederbecke", "Louis Armstrong", "Hoagy Carmichael", and wrap the term "dixieland" around this body of work.

The term, probably, is about as equally grating as when someone is referred to as a "classical" (or even worse) "serious" musician.

Seems likely ...

and also wrote:bloke "...so if one is not a 'classical' or 'serious' musician, are they then considered to be a 'quantum' or 'comic' musician?"

Well said, sir!

bloke "One must just stick their buttocks out there, make an '***' of themselves, and use that embarrassment as motivation to LISTEN!!!, SELF-EVALUTATE!!! and REMEMBER!!!"

yup.....

Did the Dixieland gig today and enjoyed. Although far from perfect, I don't think I did too bad getting some nice comments from the group on how well I got into it

J.c. Sherman wrote:(you must find a cat of your own, they are essential, and should have a goatee or soul patch, and smoke menthols over-hand)

Heh. Mine was John Carisi. Used to play at the Yankee games.

Congrats Jonathan!

Way to Go Neptune!

I agree with bloke very much. you must play this kind of music A LOT to learn it. I find it very hard to play with our local 'trad' jazz society, since it is a bunch of older gentlemen who are fine players and improvisors but no one and I mean NO ONE plays the melody of any tune that they know. So, how the F* can I play any sort of base line when I don't know the tune.

I also agree with J.C. on the chord structures. one of the fake books this group has put together has at least two different choices for most pieces.

so I stick with guessing what the I and V are, and if something like a melody approaches I try and help it along.