Can a band take a tune of just eight bars that lasts less than 20 seconds, and play through it FIFTEEN times without boring the audience? Can the band even keep it interesting and produce a little work of art?
Yes, it can be done. Tuba Skinny and other great bands frequently show us how.
Consider Jet Black Blues, an 8-bar tune based on a very simple chord progression (think The Magnolia Progression).
Lonnie Johnson wrote and recorded it in 1929. You can find his original recording (in which King Oliver also features) on YouTube.
Tuba Skinny added the tune to their repertoire some years ago.
At one of their performances, my friend David Wiseman filmed them. You may see the result BY CLICKING HERE.
Note how they vary the presentation and constantly provide fresh interest, in the fifteen runs through the tune:
1. Shaye on cornet states the tune.
2. The clarinet and trombone join in for an ensemble chorus.
3. Another ensemble chorus.
4. Craig on clarinet takes the lead, with quiet support from the cornet and trombone.
5. Another clarinet-led chorus.
6. Charlie on trombone takes the lead, with interesting stop-chord support from other members of the band.
7. The trombone again leads, this time with an amusingly different pattern of stop-chord support.
8. The cornet provides an improvisation on the eight bars.
9. Another cornet improvisation.
10. Jason on banjo takes the lead, with lovely tremolo work.
11. Jason again leads.
12. The clarinet leads, with long-note backing.
13. The clarinet again leads, with gentle backing.
14. The full ensemble plays the chorus.
15. A final run-through by the full ensemble is neatly rounded off with a 2-bar coda.
That's how it's done!
=
Footnote
My book Tuba Skinny and Shaye Cohn is available from Amazon:
Footnote
My book Tuba Skinny and Shaye Cohn is available from Amazon:
