Rude behavior in Jazz, from a trumpet ''God''

Rick Chartrand · 01-18-2005, 02:18 PM

Hi Everyone

Welll well well Trumpetmaster is back on line...'sighs relief'

To the subject at hand. Man what a story about Miles 'snotting on the stage' thats hoggish! Read the Quote from user Chet Baker below my post.

Heres a little of my understanding of Miles behavior. Miles always said that he was only interested in the music and turned to the other musicians (from our point of view on the audience) so he could concentrate on the music.

Im not defending this behavior but can understand wanting to concentrate on the music being performed. Miles always had white and black 'issues'' specially with his music, and as far as I can tell he (stupidly) viewed kind caring personable guys like Dizzy Gillespie as stupid because Miles Felt they were acting like what I thiink was called 'Uncle Toms.' Blacks who made clowns of themselves entertaining white people. If a white guy is personable to his audience he is considered nice, but Miles thought that if a black guy did it, he was an 'Uncle Tom.' How stupid and reverse rasist is that?

I saw many of Dizzys performances and interviews and he was nothing but a nice guy.
But because Miles was passed up as a very very young teen on trumpet playing opportunitties because as he said in his autobiography ''the awards went to the white kids, so I made up my mind to out-do anyone white on my horn.'' He developed an almost arrogant anti-white attitude, And thats where his attitude derived from.

I LOVE Miles work and I play cause I saw him 15 years ago in Toronto and had never heard a sound like that, and probably never will again. But I think Miles was a jerk regarding how he treated his audience. ON the other hand you cant play with all the love and emotion he played with and not be a nice guy under the facade.

I am with the guy who said audience deserves respect. I am in between gigs and am a self employed street busker and I make a nice little living at it. I have what we trumpeters refer to as 'the sound' and people many times compiliment me on my playing. My point is that I am just a street busker but I have a great connection with my audience and love to play to and for them. I would NEVER disrespect my audience like Miles did, and I think that was one of his great downfalls. Thoughts?

Rick AKA Trumpet Man

Quote:

Originally Posted by chetbaker

Growing up in the '60's I was a huge Miles Davis fan. Around 1968, during a semester break from college, 4-5 of us (all musicians) went to the "City" to see Miles' group at the Village Vanguard. He had Wayne Shorter, Tony Williams, Ron Carter and Herbie Hancock with him at the time! We get there, pay our $15 cover charge...get a front row seat...and when the band is about to hit it they announce that Miles won't make the gig that night. Mind you, the cover charge + a minimun of 2 drinks per show is only good for one set. Once the first set is over they clear the room and bring in new customers (unless you want to re-pay for the 2nd set). We dug the group without Miles so much we paid again and caught the 2nd set...they were absolutely smokin'!! Being young with time on our hands we decide to come back to the Vanguard the next night to catch the group...hopefully with Miles this time. Well, he made it there and so did we, all of us anxious to see this "god" of the trumpet. Everytime Miles played that night he used a harmon mute...and...catch this...stood at the back of the stage with his back to the audience! He did this the entire time we were there. About twenty minutes into the 1st set he finally turns around facing the audience...walks to the front of the stage...and proceeds to blow his nose (without a handkerchief or tissue) all over the floor of the stage! We couldn't believe it. Now remember...this was 1968 and we weren't used to things like this back then! So...my friends and I, along with 10-15 other patrons, immediately got up...looked at him and laughed...and walked out. That night finished me with Miles...I don't care how well he plays. Not only was it vulgar...but you got the sense that he was simply being condescending towards the audience (who was paying his salary that night, I might add!) and snotting all over them! PLUS..the group sounded a heck of alott better when it was minus him.

Butch

Robert Rowe · 01-18-2005, 08:37 PM

I have a "gift" of being able to commune with anyone, be-it a "wine-o" in the street, or The Pope.
I have a simple mantra: "Act like a gentleman and I will treat you like a gentleman;...act like an @xxhole and I will treat you like one."

Robert Rowe

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

01-18-2005, 08:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
Robert Rowe Piano User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 498	I have a "gift" of being able to commune with anyone, be-it a "wine-o" in the street, or The Pope. I have a simple mantra: "Act like a gentleman and I will treat you like a gentleman;...act like an @xxhole and I will treat you like one." Robert Rowe

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Unleash Your Anger
Copyright 2006 TrumpetMaster.com	All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:32 PM. Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v2.2.0/Links 1.01 Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.9 Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.0.0 RC8