I'm such a jazz fanatic that some people think that I don't do anything else. Here's what's on the schedule this week:

* Sound score for use on multiple spots for an advocacy group-Nylon string, fretless acoustic bass guitar, percussion (instrumental-I'm the film producer). Mixing right now.

* 2 cocktail hours-jazz guitar, electric upright and drums.

* Luncheon-investment group. Nylon string guitar-no vocals.

* Rehearsal, church youth group-B-3. Temporary replacement for a long-time friend and music minister, who died unexpectedly.

* Three dinners-solo electric grand piano at a country club.

* Vocal on a 30/60/10 sec commercial package.

* Upright gig (Zeta crossover bass) with a Grammy winning Bluegrass player and long-time friend (recording gig).

* Guitar lesson-really promising young player. Try to do one a week, N/C, for deserving youngsters).

This week, no arranger gigs. Next week, arranger jobs (2) a paid rehearsal with the local Philharmonic, two dinner jobs on piano and "jazz night" (2 nights) on B-3 and drums.

I have my preferences, but, basically, I will play whenever I'm called, if the people calling are decent folks, and I've worked for them before. I never even ask what the job pays, and, just as often, I'm not asked what I charge. I just invoice the client. They also know my rules, material-wise. If they want material I don't do, I recommend someone who does. At this stage, that rarely happens.

That's how I have worked at least 4 jobs a week for 53 years, since I was 11 years old, with 9 total weeks off. I show up on time and play what's appropriate, with a leaning
towards smooth jazz and a preference for dinner jobs (as a single),trio jobs (w/son and grandson)for the obvious sentimental reasons, and B-3 with drummer duo for the "hard liner" in me.

For sound score projects, I enjoy doing whatever the film needs to be successful and get the main point across.

How much do your jobs vary? (types of music, venues, instruments, etc.)?

Russ (music job whore) Lay

Russ ... sounds great my friend ... especially because with that much playing on guitar and no arranger, I am assuming that your hand is doing ok ... no?!? ...
t.

Last week, playing acoustic guitar, electric guitar, nylon guitar, mandolin, banjo, piano, B3, wurlie, accordion, harmonica, saxophone, recorder, background vocals for a Christian countryish record I'm producing. 2 club gigs and one private party on guitar and accordion playing gypsy jazz. One radio gig playing jazz piano.

This week, a country show playing electric guitar and keys, mixdown of the record, a gig playing ukulele Hawaiian music, and the gypsy jazz band goes to Memphis.
Next week, 2 gospel shows in South Dakota with my sisters, brother and dad.

Slacker!



chas

Tony, I'm operating at about 30%, and the pain is something that almost sidetracks me, every night. I'm not at all happy with my performance, and it HURTS. That's why all these little jobs are pretty low key...nothing fast...lots of ballads...slow, pretty pieces.

Don't know if I'll ever get back to 1/2 where I was. I'm taking these jobs as therapy more than income. If I don't hurt myself more, I'll continue with 50% of my jobs on stringed instruments. If not satisfied by the holidays, there will be the biggest guitar sale you've ever seen!

I hope that isn't necessary, but I don' t know!


R.

I wish you the best, my friend, and pray for your recovery ...
t.

Just got back from the doctor's office. He says that I have been way too aggressive and have re-injured the cut tendon. He says absolutely no bass and suggests cutting back to no guitar for awhile (a month or so). I have one bass recording today; then I'll stop that, for sure. I risk making things a lot worse.


Take really good care of your hands, folks.
All it takes is one injury to end a career.


Russ

Russ have you seen specialists with this problem yet?

Donny, I was cut severely during a break-in, and have seen all available specialists, including a top sports medicine guy who treats tears, cuts and other debilitating tendon/joint/muscle problems. He's in contact with a guy from England who specializes in hand injuries to musicians.

As I do, however, I was impatient and pushed recovery pretty hard. The prognosis is pretty sizable limitations of the dexterity in my left hand. That's pretty bad for a guitar/bass player.


The only upside now is an arranger (serves me right for knocking them over the years), and I have had some luck in playing simpler
(less busy) bass lines on a B-3 or other keyboard.

Hey, worst case, I've had a 53 year run playing guitar and upright, which I really enjoy (lots of work around here, too). I've out-lasted lots of my friends. And, in some form, I can continue playing non-weighted keys. I'll just have to adjust the material and the schedule.

I had surgery the day of the incident to repair a cut tendon. That's what's causing the problem. There is a surgery which would eliminate the constant pain, but that would almost surely result in permanent weakness, making playing impossible.

This current "setback" serves me right for being so impatient.

R.

Hi Russ,

I can identify with your situation.

I had an injury to my left hand way back when I was about 17 or so...knife attack...severe cuts on three fingers, my little finger the worst, being held on by a sliver of skin.

Long story short, the surgeon was able to re-attach the finger, and a year later, operated again to re-attach the tendon, which had retreated back into the palm.

I can use the finger, but it's not 100%...the tendon was shorter, so the finger is always a bit curved, and there's still very little feeling near the tip.

I was lucky and I can still play piano, but a lot of left hand bass work, tends to get painful, and there's really not going to be any more improvement.

The arranger has been a real blessing to me as well...and like you, it wasn't my first choice, but after many years of playing one, I've come to appreciate what it can do for me.

I wish you all the very best with your recovery, and hope that you get most, if not all functionality back in your hand.

And yes, it's terribly frustrating...I really know where you're coming from...stick with it, and listen to the doctor.

Ian



[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 06-08-2010).]

Thanks, Ian. I'm also trying to get over the personal disappointment. I knew the kid who cut me...even gave him occasional work in the past.

I hurt him pretty bad during the attack-hit him with a wooden defense baton-many times. Now, he has been convinced to file a civil suit against me.

Gotta not let that one incident make me feel like the bad guys are winning.

I appreciate the encouragement.


Russ

Yes I fogot about that injury of yours Russ! (Considering your regular posts and busy schedule) please recover gracefully and fully!

Russ I pray for your recovery. As a bass player and guitarist myself I understand the loss you must be feeling. Please don't push too hard and risk further injury. Ease up and listen to your doctor so you are able to play again in the future. Taking it easy now may be the wisest thing to do.

Russ, our thoughts are with you.

I'll be sending you a short video of Da Dude this week. You'll have to download Pando first, though.
http://www.pando.com/

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Stay well, my friend.

Taike, Nok and Mapanoy "Da Dude"

------------------
Bo pen nyang.

Still waiting for my trigger thumb to clear up... I have good days and not so good days, but there IS some gradual improvement. But the thought of what happened to Russ makes me shiver. We all take our hands for granted until something goes wrong...

One strange by-product of my thumb problem is that, it is the thumb I hook around my trombone with my left hand (and I use a Bb/F trigger a lot) and I simply can't do that right now...! So something that seems simple can have strange consequences.

I can only hope you start to improve, Russ, and I am afraid that you might have to listen to the doctor this time around, and let the wound heal it its' pace and not yours. Sucks, I know, but what is the alternative?

Hi Russ, Hope all is well with your hand. Getting back to the original thread; Sunday I hopped on a plane for Ashville, NC for the National Senior Theatre USA Convention. That evening my group, Senior Star Showcase performed a musical review, Cinemagic. For this I had recorded several of the instrumental tracks and all of the vocal sweetner tracks. Starting on Monday, I presented workshops on topics such as recording sweetner tracks, copyright issues, getting the most out of seniors vocally, ect. Each night I performed my show and afterwards hosted an open mike time for anyone who wanted to sing or recite a scene. Flew back on Thursday night and resumed my schedule of shows and I noticed that I don't have a day off for the next 2 weeks and it's been solid for the past 2 weeks as well. And on Sunday I do the whole church thing as well as a show in the afternoon for a Jewish group. Talk about a culture shift! What a business. And the variety really keeps me going.

Joe