My First Gig - In Los Angeles

[Scott Yanow]

Well actually this is not my very first gig because years ago I played in a
1920s jazz band, the Fly By Night Jazz Band. But this is something much different.

I play tenor-sax for the fun of it and, since I know a lot of musicians in town, I've taken a chance and organized a unique band. Pianist Rob Mullins got us a gig on Sunday Dec. 17 (7-10 p.m.) and the group will be called the Rob Mullins Straight Ahead All-Stars.

What kind of music will we play? Think Jazz At The Philharmonic with trumpet and tenor battles, a ballad medley and heated riffing on "Lady Be Good," "How High The Moon," "Perdido" and other similar songs.

Check out this lineup!

Trumpets: Carl Saunders and Brian Swartz
Tenors: Marty Krystall and Me
Piano: Rob Mullins
Bass: Sherry Luchette
Drums: Dean Rohan

A few of the names should be slightly familiar. Carl Saunders, a brilliant soloist, is also lead trumpeter with Bill Holman. Brian Swartz, who had Bob Florence play piano on one of his CDs, recently recorded a trio album with guitarist Larry Koonse and bassist Darek Oles. Marty Krystall, who has done extensive studio work and been associated with Buell Neidlinger, can play in any style from Ben Webster to Eric Dolphy. Rob Mullins has led a dozen CDs of his own, recently toured with Hubert Laws and is a witty and versatile player. Sherry Luchette, an up-and-coming bassist, is the wife of pianist Tamir Hendelman. And Dean Rohan is a promising drummer who recently has gigged with Rob Mullins.

And me. This should be interesting. I better practice!

It is taking place at:

The Palmer Room
Cucina Paradiso Ristorante
3387 Motor Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90034
310-839-2500
$10 cover charge

If the place is jumping, it might become a monthly event.

[Valerie]

sounds like fun. i will definitely try to make it. i've actually been trying to get to that club/restaurant for quite awhile!

[John P. Cooper]

Dance-able? Dance floor? Web site/s?

[Scott Yanow]

Danceable? Since anything in 4/4 can be danced to, yes.
Dance floor? Probably not, not sure yet.
Website: thepalmerroom.com

Valerie, I was hoping you'd see this. I think you'll find it fun.

Scott

[Ron Thorne]

Good for you, Scott.

Have fun, and . . . break a leg.

ps:You might want to let Rob know that your gig is not currently on The Palmer Room's online event calendar. Here's what shows for December 17th:

NFL Marathon
Buffet Brunch
9:30am-12:00pm

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Oh, man! Sounds like loads of fun.

I used to play Marty and Buell on the radio lots, especially "When it drips it's ready"...

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Originally Posted by John P. Cooper

Dance-able? Dance floor? Web site/s?

You a dancer, Coopa?

[Scott Yanow]

Rob, better to break a leg than break a reed.

It'll be on the online calendar eventually.

[patricia]

It's about time, Scott. Best of luck to you.

[John P. Cooper]

Originally Posted by Scott Yanow

Danceable? Since anything in 4/4 can be danced to, yes.
Dance floor? Probably not, not sure yet.
Website: thepalmerroom.com


Scott

Sure...anything in 4/4 can be danced to, but you are talking tunes that Lindy Hoppers might like, JATP style stuff, so the tempos have to be at a certain point or higher for the people to dance to.

But if their money aint green enough for ya........

[Ron Thorne]

John-

Why the negative tone?

• Scott's happy to be playing a gig again, as he well should be.

• He didn't advertise it as a "dancing gig".

• He didn't say that you or anyone's money wasn't "green enough".

• Can't you and other dancers simply enjoy listening to good music if there's no dance floor available?

I'm truly puzzled by the tone of your response.

[John P. Cooper]

I asked Scott a couple questions and it sounded to me like he was blowing me off.....as well as kissing off a potential audience for his new band which brought on my 'green enough' comment.

I know many bands that don't mention or advertise their gigs as 'dance gigs', but, none the less, there turns out to be dance space available there. The band simply didn't bother to consider it or mention it.

I can be happy simply hearing good Jazz b/c my dance skills and desires are fairly limited. OTOH, dancers will not go there not to dance. And they will not be happy simply listening b/c they are dancers first and listeners second....if it all.

The Jazz worlds and the dance worlds continue to exist in different universes even when they are in the same town.

As I said elsewhere, dancers are far more adaptable and will seek out new bands and venues if they are 'dancer friendly'. OTOH, bands and musicians are not generally that accomadating in return and pay little attention to an audience that is generally far more supportive, not to mention alive, and who tend to go out at night far more than many older folks will do.

And the 'you can dance to anything' line is an old one. Scott is no dummy. He wrote his book. He lives in LA and he knows there is an active Swing dance scene here. If his attitude is non-welcoming, a potential audience may be lost to his band - a new band with no following.

He might try doing a little positive PR for his group.

From what I pick up on this forum, there doesn't seem to be much of a market for JATP style Jazz among listeners. However, that style of playing could go over very well with Swing dancers.

Without dancers, there is a pretty good chance that Jazz would have 'died' during the Depression...but that is another discussion.

[Paul B]

I don't think jazz would have died without dancers, because the best of it was always listening music. But that's another discussion.

Seems to me it would be incumbent upon the dance crowd to check this place out and see if the band and venue are suitable, not for a group preparing for its first big gig to worry about whether dancers are being accomodated. A little due diligence would go a long way. Or are dancers too cheap to buy a drink and listen to music once in a while?

Scott, good luck with the gig, hope it all goes well.

Bye-ya

[John P. Cooper]

Originally Posted by Paul B

I don't think jazz would have died without dancers, because the best of it was always listening music. But that's another discussion.

Seems to me it would be incumbent upon the dance crowd to check this place out and see if the band and venue are suitable, not for a group preparing for its first big gig to worry about whether dancers are being accomodated. A little due diligence would go a long way. Or are dancers too cheap to buy a drink and listen to music once in a while?

Scott, good luck with the gig, hope it all goes well.

Bye-ya

The best of Jazz is obviously listenable, but most venues featured a dance floor and I think w/o that dance floor during the hard times of the Depression, Jazz would have been driven so underground as to perhaps never resurfaced. It is near invisible today and would possibly be totally invisible if not for the attention of dancers in the 1930s. Just a thought.

The dance crowd does check places out. I have already sent an e-mail to Nicole at the venue and asked her if there is a floor or space ro dance. And while it might be incumbent for dancers to do some homework, it is also simply good busimess for a band and venue to try and get as many people in the door as possible.

Many dancers are cheap, but that is beside the point. Dancers go to a venue to dance, not to sit there and listen to music. Many dancers are not music fans, per se. They simply like the music b/c it serves as functional stimuli for their dancing. Sad, but true.

Then, there is another breed of dancer who really pays attention to the music, but they are still there to dance. Yes, they will sit out a few numbers to listen and converse and catch their breath or socialize, but it is the rare dancer/listener who will sit there hrough a few numbers and simply listen or stop dancing b/c the music is so great....which does happen at times. I have seen one local band do a rendition of FLYING HOME with the leader calling out chorus after chorus to his tenor player who is wailing and dancers have stopped to watch and listen...dead stop on the dance floor....the ultimate tribute....except for continued patronage.

[Scott Yanow]

Funny, because I have always been in favor of jazz being played for dancers. I think separating jazz from dancing during the bebop era and afterwards helped drastically cut the audience for jazz. And I do mean it when I say anything in 4/4 is danceable. I talk about that in my book Swing from a few years ago, and I feel that the bebop generation made a mistake by discouraging dancers.

So I'm not blowing anyone off. But dancing is not the main point of this particular gig and, until I check out the restaurant early next week (Rob Mullins was the one who got us the gig), I can't definitely say whether people can dance there or not. I doubt that there's a dance floor since it is primarily a restaurant, but I certainly don't mind if people are dancing. It would be a compliment, actually.

[Valerie]

Originally Posted by Scott Yanow

I doubt that there's a dance floor since it is primarily a restaurant, but I certainly don't mind if people are dancing. It would be a compliment, actually.

i don't mind either, unless they block my view of the musicians!!

seriously, sometimes dancers can be a distraction at a jazz gig, which then i'm not in favor of - especially if there is a singer.

[John P. Cooper]

Originally Posted by Valerie

i don't mind either, unless they block my view of the musicians!!

seriously, sometimes dancers can be a distraction at a jazz gig, which then i'm not in favor of - especially if there is a singer.

I agree, but it is a small price to pay in exchange for the energy level and sense of enthusiasm and appreciation they bring to a venue.

And if I really need to see someone play or sing, I'll simply stand up or move closer to the bandstand.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

We rarely have dancers at our gigs because of the avant-ness of our vibe, but when punks come out, they dance their asses off, and it's a lot of fun. They even dance to our protest music.

[John P. Cooper]

"John,

Thank you for your email. Yes, The Palmer Room has the capability to set up cocktail tables toward the back and a dance floor close to the stage.

Thank you,
Nicole"
---------------------------

Voila!

[graypencil]

Scott:

Glad you're enjoying the gig! It's nice to know that someone I've basically known from his various writings is an actual player as well !!

Keep swingin' !!

[Ron Thorne]

Originally Posted by John P. Cooper

*Why isn't my sig showing? It is showing in he preview, but not in the post.

Hmmmmmmmm...

I wouldn't worry, John. Your cheerful holiday message is there for everyone (Except You) to see.

[Ron Thorne]

Originally Posted by John P. Cooper

Ron-

I took the time to type out a reply to your list of questions. I hope you will be responding this time.

Thanks.
John

Wow. I didn't think you really cared about my opinion, John.

Surely you aren't suggesting that I'm unable or unwilling to respond. I don't want to "Bogart" Scott's thread, though.

Later.

[Ron Thorne]

OK, John, here's my response to your response.

Originally Posted by John Cooper

Ron-

Don't be puzzled. I asked him a couple questions and it sounded to me like he was blowing me off.....as well as kissing off a potential audience for his new band which brought on my 'green enough' comment.

Well, perhaps you were wrong.

I know many bands that don't mention or advertise thier gigs as 'dance gigs', but, none the less, there turns out to be dance space available there. The band simply didn't bother to consider it or mention it.

Again, perhaps you were wrong. Or, at least presumptuous.

I can be happy simply hearing good Jazz b/c my dance skills and desires are fairly limited. OTOH, dancers will not go there not to dance. And they will not be happy simply listening b/c they are dancers first and listeners second....if it all.

So, dance! Who's stopping them? I've danced in front of my seat in a concert hall . . . many times. My wife and I love to dance and have been dancing together for over 40 years.

The Jazz worlds and the dance worlds continue to exist in different universes even when they are in the same town.

No comment.

As I said elsewhere, dancers are far more adaptable and will seek out new bands and venues if they are 'dancer friendly'. OTOH, bands and musicians are not generally that accomadating in return and pay little attention to an audience that is generally far more supportive, not to mention alive, and who tend to go out at night far more than many older folks will do.

You've lost me here. "Dancers are far more adaptable" than who? What follows is also cloudy and presumptuous, in my view.

And the 'you can dance to anything' line is an old one. Scott is no dummy. He wrote his book. He lives in LA and he knows there is an active Swing dance scene here. If his attitude is non-welcoming, a potential audience may be lost to his band - a new band with no following.

Scott's comment may be an "old one", but it's an accurate one. Nothing could be simpler than dancing to 4/4 time, in any tempo. If you can only dance to a very limited range of tempos, you're not a true "dancer" in my book.

What was unwelcoming about Scott's attitude? Again, I suggest that you're reading stuff into his initial post and being presumptuous.

He might try doing a little positive PR for his group.

Practice what you preach, preacher.

Does this help explain a little more?

No, but I get your drift.

From what I pick up on this forum, there doesn't seem to be much of a market for JATP style Jazz among listeners. However, that style of playing could go over very well with Swing dancers.

The last time I checked, the world doesn't revolve around swing dancing, John. Not even for jazz venues.

Without dancers, there is a pretty good chance that Jazz would have 'died' during the Depression...but that is another discussion.

Indeed.


Peace~

[John P. Cooper]

Ron-

I wish you knew what you were talking about b/c it would make it easier to respond to your post.

end transmission-

[John P. Cooper]

Originally Posted by Ron Thorne

OK, John, here's my response to your response.



Well, perhaps you were wrong.

Again, perhaps you were wrong. Or, at least presumptuous.

So, dance! Who's stopping them? I've danced in front of my seat in a concert hall . . . many times. My wife and I love to dance and have been dancing together for over 40 years.

No comment.

You've lost me here. "Dancers are far more adaptable" than who? What follows is also cloudy and presumptuous, in my view.

Scott's comment may be an "old one", but it's an accurate one. Nothing could be simpler than dancing to 4/4 time, in any tempo. If you can only dance to a very limited range of tempos, you're not a true "dancer" in my book.

What was unwelcoming about Scott's attitude? Again, I suggest that you're reading stuff into his initial post and being presumptuous.

Practice what you preach, preacher.

No, but I get your drift.

The last time I checked, the world doesn't revolve around swing dancing, John. Not even for jazz venues.

Indeed.


Peace~

[Ron Thorne]

Originally Posted by John P. Cooper

Ron-

I wish you knew what you were talking about b/c it would make it easier to respond to your post.

end transmission-

It's very curious to me that you're the one who decides whether I know what I'm talking about or not. Hmmmm.

Over and out~

[Scott Yanow]

So, I have this gig. Anyway, I better practice because these giants will blow me off the stage. It'll just be great to see them all on the same stage, playing "Perdido" and "How High The Moon."

[Ron Thorne]

Woodsheddin' can be fun, Scott.

Best of luck.

[John P. Cooper]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAAAV7BB1HU

[clinthopson]

Scott, that sounds like a fine little band. Good luck with the gig.