Posted by Wade on March 14, 2004 at 22:01:52:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Dixieland music posted by AW on March 14, 2004 at 21:28:40:
"Many of the chords from that lead sheet are more advanced jazz chords -- not dixie stuff."
Right. Unfortunately, interest in this stuff is low with students because it is considered to be outmoded or trite.
However, if one schooled only in modern jazz theory and styles were to get up and try to play with a traditional band, he would be badly surprised by some of the changes, and glared at if he decided to play outside the changes through extensions or tri-tone substitutions. He would have some trouble fitting in with the ensemble. And frequently he would not know why.
The guys on the gig might be top-flight big band or Real Book combo guys, playing great on all of the standards on other gigs. But if trained properly in traditional style they will aggressively stick to the simplicity of the old ways on these gigs.
Many students will label the older style and sound as "boring", failing to realize just how hard the style is to play correctly. When the changes are that spare, you have to have a good working vocabulary on your axe in order to solo well. It is roughly analogous to college hornists going oooh and ahhh over Strauss and poo-poo-ing Mozart over his simplicity, failing to realize just how badly they themselves sound when playing Mozart's music, the style of which is very exact and none too easy.
Wade "old, simplistic music is frequently played poorly when thought of as being outmoded or trite" Rackley