I see your point, Diki. It would be impolite, at best, to try to conduct a pro seminar in any style of music at a party/entertainment venue
(bar, restaurant, etc.). I guess, then, my question is, how do hard line musicians make the choice of when to entertain and when to further the art form and introduce the "new and improved" end product to the public?

Is is worth dedicating your life to furthering the art form and suffering the consequences?(reduced jobs and income, less appreciation, etc.). Is there a compromise position where you can do both?

Again, we're talking about an issue that would matter to an academic or 100% musician and less to entertainer/musicians.

I really enjoy assisting young players understand more about musical history, structure and historic pieces of music.
And, I tend to choose a quiet restaurant where I can play more complex jazz standards, knowing the money and audiences are smaller.


But, I'm not an entertainer, and that always enters into the venue and material choices.

Perhaps it's enough to do what Rory, Montunoman and, I'm sure Diki, Chas and others do...find a middle spot. Play recognized materials, with sophisticated changes, and hope "someone" out there recognizes and appreciates the effort.

Russ



[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 05-18-2010).]

And, Don, I could certainly learn a lot from you. Wouldn't it be fun to work as a duo? I really believe, factoring in the friendship/fun element, the preference for different styles would become a minor issue.

Of course, we'd have to negotiate the "Buffet" issue (LOL)!Or, feature me playing (UGH) Buffet tunes overdriven guitar/punk (make that Grandpa punk) style...lots of distortion...spandex overalls...a la Cheech and Chong!

Now, even I would pay big bucks to see that!


Russ

One thing about the New Orleans area within 100 miles or so in either direction, and with-in New Orleans itself, there are many different genres of music such as, Rock and Roll, Rhythm and Blues, Straight up Jazz, Dixieland Jazz, Country, Rock a Billy, Zydeco, Pop, and many more I can't even name and some I don't care to mention. I mean on one corner there is country on the next corner there is R&R, on another corner, there may be Dixieland Jazz.

You really need to be able to play a bit of each to work steady. Just knowing the tunes is enough for the local guys. The Marsalis’ are an exception.

Besides, Cajun’s are known to drink and party a lot. Therefore, I do not believe they would get much from the effort of trying to educate them about different aspects of artist and their music.

Here in Colorado I do maybe 20 or 30 sort of country tunes. I do not know much about country artist and tunes to educate the audience. Some folks in this area sneer at Desafinado, Fly Me To The Moon, Polka Dots And Moon beams etc. The retirement homes are best for me, All I have to do is play and entertain.

Russ you’re lucky. You get to play for folks who appreciate what you’re doing for the most part I am sure.


[This message has been edited by brickboo (edited 05-18-2010).]

Russ, I think this thread is closely tied to Your 'why do you play?' thread. If you're motivated primarily by money, then educating your audience is the last thing on your mind; in fact, you MIGHT be more interested in their educating YOU......on which tunes generate the biggest tips and are most likely to assure you a return trip.

We've discussed the differences between being a musician and an entertainer many times ('though they don't HAVE to be mutually exclusive). I say, if you want to be spiritually happy but financially sad, be a musician; if your main goal is to make money, then be an entertainer. If you want to be a musician AND make money, then you'd better be at least as good as Wynton Marsalis AND carry a rabbit's foot around for good measure.

All lovers of the more complex forms of music, such as jazz or classical, would like to see more sophisticated audiences. I'm sure my wife wishes I would turn off '24' and watch 'The English Patient' but it probably ain't gonna happen.

Frankly (and sadly), I don't know if an audience even CAN BE educated once they hit adulthood. That probably has to happen early on in one's development and supported and promoted by one's earliest influences (usually the parents). If you happen to be born to poor dirt farmers in rural Mississippi, it's going to be a looooong road before you start appreciating Monk OR Beethoven. Luck of the draw, baby, that's all. Anyhoo, if you want to do something, start by making sure the music program in your local school is not the first victim of budget cuts. The road to being a (really cool) jazz lover starts there .

chas

I know some people that know NOTHING about jazz, but still appreciate listening to it. They wouldn't know a Basie tune from an Ellington, but they listen to both!

That's the wonderful thing about music... it bypasses the higher levels in your brain and speaks directly to the emotions, no education required! (thank God! Where would we all be if you NEEDED an educated audience? )

That's all the academization of music is, IMO... an effort to quantify, to explain WHY some pieces of music induce strong emotion, and some don't. But a dirt farmer in the middle of nowhere can decide for himself if he likes it or not. And that in and of itself is the battle won or lost...

Yes, the less educated, the better I sound

Chas, you are right. the "Why do you play?" post and this one are almost extensions of each other.


R.