Sunday, May 29, 2011

The Doorman’s Diary: 5.27-28.11


Day 2 of live recording at the jazz club. The band: drums, electric piano, bass (standup or Fender electric), sax (tenor or alto), trumpet, and maracas / hand percussion. This night was better than last night. Even so, the band was painfully aware that every note played would be recorded for perpetuity – thus, there were times when one or more of the musicians suddenly played stiffly or missed a note careening the song into a ditch. Thus, they’d start the song over. They were recording songs they’ve expertly played hundreds of times before, so it was difficult to see them struggle at times with the human inability to be perfect. I’m just The Doorman, but to me the beauty of jazz is when a song is perfectly in the groove OR when a mistake is made and the musician and the others in the group close ranks and smooth it out. Both versions can be special. I know the group will deliver a flawless new recording, but I wouldn’t have minded a flub or two to show what really good jazz musicians they are.

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