One of those gigs
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One of those gigs
Just had a three hour charity fundraiser.. Drummer didn't show up and backup was sick. Electric bass player was dragging big time... not looking at the goofy guy up front waving his arms around (normally we don't have a conductor but drafted one since we didn't have a drummer). No amount of pushing from me on sousa could keep him from slowing down... completely oblivious to the band around him. Normally, when there's a drummer to follow he's a really good bass player.. So frustrating.
As amateur as they come...I know just enough to be dangerous.
Meinl-Weston 20
Holton Medium Eb 3+1
Holton Collegiate Sousas in Eb and BBb
40s York Bell Front Euphonium
Schiller Elite Euphonium
Blessing Artist Marching Baritone
Yamaha YSL-352 Trombone
Meinl-Weston 20
Holton Medium Eb 3+1
Holton Collegiate Sousas in Eb and BBb
40s York Bell Front Euphonium
Schiller Elite Euphonium
Blessing Artist Marching Baritone
Yamaha YSL-352 Trombone
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arpthark
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Re: One of those gigs
My local band has a perpetually draggy drummer (age 81).
You learn to fight it and live with it, to an extent, but there's hardly anything more frustrating.
You learn to fight it and live with it, to an extent, but there's hardly anything more frustrating.
Blake
Bean Hill Brass
Bean Hill Brass
Re: One of those gigs
Chet Baker once said, “It takes a damn good drummer to be better than no drummer at all.”
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bloke
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Re: One of those gigs
My little job yesterday was a bit of surprise. The trumpet guy who called me for the job had not been able to secure a drummer and nor anyone who played a chording instrument.. in other words: no banjo. We had the trumpet guy, a trombone guy who had never played any dixie jobs ever, and me on the sousaphone. The trombone guy played a lot of melody and bass line stuff that he was seeing on the lead sheets he was furnished, so - not only did I have to keep time, but - I had to think of some notes that would normally be in an alto voice (or played by a chording instrument) to stick in the bass lines to fill out the chords as best I could. It was fine. Everyone smiled. 
Around here - at least as far as the people who hire me (and the drummers they hire as well) are concerned - I'm almost always blessed with a wonderful drummer. Even the weakest one that I've worked with was actually very good and - as he and I worked together over a period of years on a weekly job - he became quite good at putting the snap right with my bass notes (rather than pulling us back).
My favorite around here is a second generation professional musician. (His dad owned a music store.) He has a wonderful sense of humor. His business cards - back when he had some - used to say "the quietest drummer in Memphis".
Your post just reminds me how lucky I am.
Way back in ancient history, there was a drummer I worked with for a few months (touring band) who was filling in for another drummer (who was having trouble with his right arm for a few months). The guy who was filling in actually had been Charlie Rich's drummer, and he's the only person that I can think of - over all the years of playing in bands and combos - who comes to mind as having had a slight tendency to drag.
Something that I have to pay attention to closely if I get hired to cover the tuba part in some community band (ex. when all the players are on vacation/sick/obligated elsewhere l, or when I'm hired to cover someone missing in an amateur group at a church) is to realize that legato passages and quiet passages are going to slow down, and - if I don't pay really close attention and and just play with the group (rather than "driving the bus") - I can easily mess everything up, because they're so accustomed to slowing down when playing more cantabile or pianissimo passages.
I recall being called at 4:00 p.m. for a 6:00 p.m. community band concert where one of the things they played was the Holst 2nd Suite. My eyebrows went up pretty high when I realized I had to downshift to 2nd gear when they got to the euphonium solo in the "March". It wasn't just a little bit slower.
I think quite a few people who have some trouble with their playing only have trouble because they don't plan ahead of time in their minds exactly when they're going to execute all of the little events which are involved in playing. Were they in the habit of deciding ahead precisely when to do things, I believe they would play just about as well as anyone.
Around here - at least as far as the people who hire me (and the drummers they hire as well) are concerned - I'm almost always blessed with a wonderful drummer. Even the weakest one that I've worked with was actually very good and - as he and I worked together over a period of years on a weekly job - he became quite good at putting the snap right with my bass notes (rather than pulling us back).
My favorite around here is a second generation professional musician. (His dad owned a music store.) He has a wonderful sense of humor. His business cards - back when he had some - used to say "the quietest drummer in Memphis".
Your post just reminds me how lucky I am.
Way back in ancient history, there was a drummer I worked with for a few months (touring band) who was filling in for another drummer (who was having trouble with his right arm for a few months). The guy who was filling in actually had been Charlie Rich's drummer, and he's the only person that I can think of - over all the years of playing in bands and combos - who comes to mind as having had a slight tendency to drag.
Something that I have to pay attention to closely if I get hired to cover the tuba part in some community band (ex. when all the players are on vacation/sick/obligated elsewhere l, or when I'm hired to cover someone missing in an amateur group at a church) is to realize that legato passages and quiet passages are going to slow down, and - if I don't pay really close attention and and just play with the group (rather than "driving the bus") - I can easily mess everything up, because they're so accustomed to slowing down when playing more cantabile or pianissimo passages.
I recall being called at 4:00 p.m. for a 6:00 p.m. community band concert where one of the things they played was the Holst 2nd Suite. My eyebrows went up pretty high when I realized I had to downshift to 2nd gear when they got to the euphonium solo in the "March". It wasn't just a little bit slower.
I think quite a few people who have some trouble with their playing only have trouble because they don't plan ahead of time in their minds exactly when they're going to execute all of the little events which are involved in playing. Were they in the habit of deciding ahead precisely when to do things, I believe they would play just about as well as anyone.