Klarinet Archive - Posting 000575.txt from 1999/01

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Combs, jazz et al
Date: Wed, 13 Jan 1999 00:31:12 -0500

At 06:23 PM 1/12/99 -0600, Steve Goldman wrote:
>In my opinion, it's much easier for a jazz player with good technique to
>play straight than the other way around. Straight players spend their lives
>perfecting technique while slavishly sticking to the written page with
>slight nuances which constitute interpretation (not so for pre-19th C. works
>but that's another story). It is intimidating and difficult for many of them
>to improvise at all, let alone well. While some jazz players are
>intimidated by having to interpret other peoples notes (Goodman always felt
>a tremendous responsibility when doing classical works, and I feel that it
>was detrimental his interpretations), those who have a "feel" for the music
>(and proper classical technique) should have no problems with the notes.
>
Probably the same sort of mechanism that allows comedians like Jackie
Gleason, Art Carney, Mickey Rooney, etc., to do wonderful dramatic acting,
while dramatic actors tend to do comedy in a leaden, unfunny way. Like the
dying actor said, "Dying is easy. Comedy is hard."

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.

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