[Tradjazz] The gig - First night 2000 - NYC

[Bruce McNichols]

Oh you guys.  I'm lucky you didn't send a rhinoceros over to my place, to stomp me good.

That gig came in at the last minute and I really did some scuffling to put a band together.  Yup, I coulda said "No," but frankly, the producer appealed to me to come up with something - anything!

Contrary to your comments, I did not get any musicians from the Union.  Maybe one of my contacts did.  I did cull the musicians from many sources.  One source was the leader of a fine Rack-a-Billy band (although the leader himself was not available).

Steve's message stirs many memories in my addled brain.  Over the years, we've played many times at the Bronx Zoo (although usually not in the Winter).  One time, we were strolling around the whole complex.  We stopped at the Tiger's cage and played - you guessed it - Tiger Rag.  That huge beast was lying down and he stared directly at us, for the entire tune.  It was so un-nerving that I had us move to another location.  To say the least, I do not think that Mr. Tiger was amused.  If it was a cartoon, the balloon over his head would've said "If it weren't for these steel bars, those fools would be dead meat!"

Another time at the Bronx Zoo, we were stationed along a pathway, playing away.  Suddenly the tuba man dropped out.  Of course, the poor tuba player can't miss even a single note, without everyone else in the band, noticing.  We made sure NOT to turn around and look.  Gradually we noticed that he was brushing his hand on his head.  Turns out that a passing pigeon had made a direct hit, on his bald head.  Perfect!  And me, without a camera.

Another time, I was a sideman at a gig in a zoo in a small park  in New Jersey.  The leader told me that he and another guy were cutting it very close, so I should start if they didn't arrive on time.  I picked a spot along a pathway and began playing, without them.   Soon enough, a small flock of geese came waddling along.  They stopped in front of me, and remained there, staring at me.  When the tune ended, they turned and waddled away.  My fans!

~~~
Each year, we play at the Statue of Liberty during the 4th of July week.  We've been doing that gig since 1976 (yes, we're old guys).  We also play for the Statue's birthday which is in October.  The gig is outside!   July is one thing, but I must say, that wind gets mighty cold in October.  This Saturday, we'll be there.  Sure we could turn down outside gigs in the cold weather, but after all, IT'S A GIG!  Gotta pay the rent, ya know.

My humble apologies to Steve et al, for that fateful NY's eve gig, but hopefully those guys subscribe to my policy, which is simply "I coulda said no."  

~~~
One of my earliest c-c-c-cold gigs, was on St. Patrick's Day back in the 1960's.  We were doing a steady Friday night gig at an Irish pub on the Upper East-Side in Manhattan.  The club owner wanted to promote the gig (goodfer him) so he hired us to play on a truck in the big parade.  The catch was, he wasn't supposed to have a truck in the parade.  The truck joined in, near the end of the parade route so we got a lot of exposure anyway.

It was VERY cold.   To add to the fun, it began snowing.  I'll always remember Herb Gardner, wearing gloves while he played piano.  Again, me without a camera.  Damn!

~~~
Lenny Israel is a trumpet man who has been gigging around New York for decades.  I wasn't there but one of the sidemen told me this one.  Lenny was in a band playing at Yankee Stadium on Opening Day, years ago.  The band was outside and it was very cold.  After a while, it began raining.  The band was not happy.  Eventually, it began to snow!  Lenny, looking up at the heavens, waved his arms and cried "Four thousand years.  Haven't we suffered enough!"  I love it.
  By the way, I may have the number of years wrong there, but go with me on this one, please.
McN



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "William P. Taggart" <billt at lion.com>
To: <tradjazz at list.okom.com>
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 11:53 AM
Subject: Re: [Tradjazz] The gig - First night 2000 - NYC


> Steve,
> 
> That's a great story... THANK YOU!
> 
> I've got a few Bruce McNichols stories of my own to share... Which I
> will do when time permits...
> 
> All The Best,  Bill
> 
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Barbone [mailto:barbonestreet at earthlink.net] 
> Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 11:00 AM
> To: tradjazz at list.okom.com
> Subject: [Tradjazz] The gig - First night 2000 - NYC
> 
> I've been threatening Bruce McN to tell this story and now here it is:
> 
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone
> 
> Back in 1999, Pete Pepke (trombone) and I were working a lot of gigs together. Early in the year we were booked to play the millennium New Year's Eve for Long Green. As you may remember, bands were getting booked early and often as the expectation for all sorts of celebrations took hold.
> 
> Lack of reservations at this very posh restaurant forced a cancellation in October and we were paid $100 each as a cancellation fee. We wereimmediately rebooked at another posh restaurant for even Longer Green.  That one cancelled on December 27 and we were each paid $175 as a cancellation fee. (Smart band bookers had gotten some of the money up front) OK we thought, we'll sit home this year, for $275.
> 
> But Pete, who loves to play, contacts Bruce McN who, lo and behold, had booked a bunch of bands through his Muskrat Productions agency and was still short Dixieland musicians for First Night 2000 in NYC. Time 9 PM to 11 PM, at the Bronx Zoo outside - 6 piece Dixieland. Needs, clarinet and trombone. Would we do it?
> 
> We agreed and drove to Central New Jersey where the banjo player (forget his name) fed us dinner at his house and then drove us to Bronx Zoo. We report to heated Bus where we change into Summer weight striped jackets. 

> We had been warned in advance about this so I wore polar fleece under my white shirt. Tuba player arrives (forget his name) and claims his jacket. We note that remaining jackets are size small.
> 
> So far, so good, the 4 of us are all experienced Dixieland players so we are happy. Then drummer arrives. He is dressed like the deer slayer in black leather, fringed jacket, and black leather flared pants. He ismuch too big to fit into either remaining jacket. OK, dress as you are, what the hell.

> Pete asks him if he is a Dixieland drummer? "Nope." Pete also notices long sideburns and asks him where he has played recently. "I just got off the road with an Elvis impersonator." How did Bruce hear of you? "He got me from the AFM local 802 pool of available musicians. Oh, Oh.
> 
> Then he catches his pants leg on a sharp edge in the bus and rips the inside seam from knee to crotch. No thread, but helpful coordinator lady has four safety pins and pins him closed.
> 
> Then trumpet arrives. He is very thin and tall, wearing a long overcoat, a Dizzy Gillespie beret, shades, and a Dizzy goatee. On his arm is tall, thin, pale, good looking girl in a Vampira sort of way. Can't fit into striped jackets either so what the hell, dress as you are. He is also an 802 find.

> Do you play Dixieland? "Nope". What then? "Bop" (who'd have guessed that)
> 
> Ah well, at least 4 of us know what we are doing.
> 
> We start by the Seal Pool. It is 30 degrees and we decided to play
> "Indiana". I'll take lead, I tell trumpet and you listen through first chorus, then play the bop tune Donna Lee which was written over the same chords. "What key?" he asks. "F". Pete says to drummer, play 4/4 swing.
> 
> Seals, go crazy barking out of tempo and rushing around pool. Audience likes it though. Zoo was all lit up with Christmas lights and a sight to behold.

> We move to close to pool and get splashed before retreating. We curse Bruce (good naturedly) for putting us on this crazy gig.
> 
> As the night progressed, we moved to the Elephant/Tapir house. Folks love us, animals ignored us and then to the Ape House. Folks loved out but Apes go crazy so we move back to Seal Pool. Seal bark out of tempo again and than a marching band with drum majorettes passes by. So we stop for a few minutes and just oogle the girls who get splashed by seals.
> 
> By 11 PM, we were cold, but happy as trumpet player had excellent ears and as Pete and I alternated with melody line, trumpet heard the chords after first chorus and we were able to play the normal war horse tunes and some others familiar to the audience with trumpet playing credible counterpoint.

> Drummer also turned out to be excellent. And though I forgotten who the banjo and tuba were, McN uses them often and they were Excellent.
> 
> One thing I did vow though, as my fingers were freezing. No more outdoor gigs after mid-October and before May 1st.
> 
> 

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