Dixieland / classical gig

jtlownds · #1 02-25-2010, 09:54 AM

Yesterday, I played a dixieland concert with a 6 piece band (clarinet, trumpet, trombone, keyboard, bass and drums.) It's a weekly outdoor concert that is free to the public. We allow sit-ins, mostly singers, but we get a few instumentalist. This older Italian gentleman wants to sing with the band. He's an operatic tenor with a degree from some conservatory in Bologna, who made his living singing opera. He comes up on stage carrying charts for a 60 piece orchestra and starts passing them out to the players. He has selected "Minde Femme" (the first word may not be correct) and "O Solo Mio". Of course we didn't have 15 violins to flesh out the arrangements, and the drummer had to pass on the timpani parts, so you can imagine what this sounded like. In 54 years of playing, I have played some weird ****, but this one just raised it to a new standard. I have instructed our leader, that if anyone approaches the bandstand with charts in their hand, that they are to be shot on sight.

Paul Warburton · #2 02-25-2010, 10:24 AM

They are out there, aren't they, Jim? You just never know when it may happen, but it does.
The minute you become a serious player in any genre, or even if you just get on the bandstand to play some music for fun one of them could find you. Those self-serving whack cases that have huge egos and think the world is waitng for their musical brilliance.
No one is safe from them.

Funny stuff.

jtlownds · #3 02-25-2010, 11:18 AM

You are absolutely right, Paul, THEY are definitely out there. The only thing left, that I haven't run into, so far, is some guy showing up with a steam calliope and wanting to sit in. But, that could happen next week.

carlodellepiane · #4 05-27-2010, 03:34 PM

ahah!

I was just going to post into the NewEntries Forum, saying somethin like "hi there, I'm Carlo from Italy bla bla bla...."

this story about another Italian made me think about it twice

wasn't it "Mala femmena?"

jtlownds · #5 05-27-2010, 05:01 PM

Hi Carlo,

No problem with Italians here, just with those that think they can nix opera with dixieland. That first selection could have been "Mala Femmena". The charts were hand written in Italian, and I don't speak Italian, so I really don't know.

Welcome to TBDB.

Paul Warburton · #6 05-27-2010, 06:59 PM

I did a wedding gig many years ago and a family member was a "magician". He came up and did absolutely nothing but asked the drummer to follow his actions.
I submit this clip of my old friend Pete Barbutti who I worked with for a few years (another crazy Italan) doing his "Bad magician with A good drummer" schtick on a tonight Show clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t6yilFoM98

forester · #7 05-27-2010, 07:46 PM

since it's a weekly gig, it will give your ensemble a chance to bone up on its' accompaniment chops.sure as the sun sets,there will be an encore,only this time when you go through the charts,grab a lyrical part,(not one marked "Femmena" )but something you can voice,and compliment your play.opportunity sometimes happens once, a second chance shouldn't be overlooked.
(pics and a soundclip would be nice)

jtlownds · #8 05-28-2010, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by forester

since it's a weekly gig, it will give your ensemble a chance to bone up on its' accompaniment chops.sure as the sun sets,there will be an encore,only this time when you go through the charts,grab a lyrical part,(not one marked "Femmena" )but something you can voice,and compliment your play.opportunity sometimes happens once, a second chance shouldn't be overlooked.
(pics and a soundclip would be nice)

Hi Forrester,

Fortunately, that concert series is over. It runs from January thru April. I shouldn't have to worry about that guy until next January.

I have played way more than my share of Italian weddings. It seems that just about every Italian family has an Uncle Luigi or Aunt Maria that fancies themselves an operatic star. Fortunately, they don't bring charts with them, and they stick with the more familiar "O Solo Mio" or "Barber of Seville". I can handle that stuff off the top of my head. As far as selecting a melodic chart, we didn't get that chance. He assigned us the parts that he wanted us to play, and then took on the role of conductor and featured vocalist. It turned into one big cluster ****. Since I embarrass easily, I will not be posting pictures and sound clips.