OK, I had an wonderful gig last night with the John Burnett big band. I played the second book (my prefered book these days), Brent Turney played lead, Dave Hibbard played third and Tony Ponz played fourth. It was an excellent section and the evening was pleasant.
During our breaks we were talking shop - horns, valve oil, chops, players, recordings, etc... Along the way the discussion covered the times when a few of us had heard some of the legendary players whome we all KNOW AND LOVE and HONOR, just flat out play badly - a bad streak or a bad night - and RESOUNDINGLY bad. We even commented on one player who (a Chicago jazz legend) who is exciting because you never really know what is going to happen until the gig hits!!! It is alomst part of his charm and charisma.
Our conversation was not about attacking great players. We ALL respected those folks we were talking about. Our drift was towards that idea that ANYONE can mess up once in a while, and it shouldn't be that big a deal.
Now I am NOT going to name names. I would hope that any responses to this thread would do the same. The names I am thinking of though are BIG TIME - the kind players whose solos we transcribe.
The point is this: I have heard many folks take a pot shot at a player - a bad review of a gig or concert or performance somewhere. Often these bad reviews are on listservs or forums. More often than not, folks try to be thoughtful in doing so, but on occassion I have seen some pretty incendiary post performance reviews.
I would encourage honesty. Allowing hero worship to cloud things up isn't good. However, there is nothing to be gained by running someone into the ground for having a bad night. If I were to go hear one of my favorites deliver a stellar performance, I would post about it - sharing the joy. If, on the other hand, that performer had an off night, I think I'd just let it go. To make a big thing out of it would come off more like I was relishing someone elses trials as opposed to sounding intellectual about a concert. In fact, I think I would go so far as to FIND the good in EVERY performance! There is ALWAYS something! It's that good that is really important in the first place.
Finally, I think we can often be the hardest on EACH OTHER. OK, the legendary players out there - the big names - often can get away with off nights easier than the rest of us can. The rank and file top fight pros can get really rough on each other, though! I have wintessed it and been on the receiving end of it! OK, in my younger days, I may have even dished it up a little bit. I'm not proud of that, and I have been striving to NOT allow that sort of behavior into my thinking any more.
Even a bad night is a good night, if you're playing a trumpet!!
OK, I'm rambling a bit. I hope this make sense sort of!
OK, TTFN!
ND