[Tradjazz] Play The Music

[Steve Barbone]

Right on McN!!!!

Too damn few of us play "music".

Reminds me of what I read about a conversation Artie Shaw had with Benny
Goodman. Benny was asking Shaw about what kind of clarinet he favored.

Shaw said (paraphrasing here) Benny, you are too Goddam hung up on
Clarinets.

Goodman responded, That's what we play isn't it?

Shaw said, No, I'm trying to play music.

Illustrates the difference in their approaches to the horn.

Goodman saw the clarinet as an instrument to be mastered, which he certainly
did. Shaw (and Pee Wee Russell et al) saw the clarinet as a more of a device
with which to communicate their ideas via "music" to the audience.

Perhaps a subtle difference to some, but it speaks volumes to me.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone