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Re: No Swing in the U.K.?

To: brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: No Swing in the U.K.?
From: Tom Sheridan <tom_s@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1997 11:18:57 GMT
Cc: tom_s@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Priority: low
Reply-to: brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Gregor Spowart wrote:
> Well, again, i have to disagree....i'm not making any friends on this
> list, but I just don't feel that British Brass Bands can swing, either SA
> bands or otherwise. 

I'm sorry to have to agree with Gregor. At least down here in the depths 
of the 4th section, swing is not an 'integrated core competence' of the 
average band, to use a bit of suit-speak.  It seems to me that it depends 
on the background of the conductor.  A conductor who knows what swing is 
about can teach a band how to swing if they want to learn.  

In my limited experience, I've played with one band that could seriously 
swing, thanks to the conductor who explained how it was done to the few 
who didn't know.  But at least one band hadn't a clue what swing was, 
with a conductor who didn't want to know.  I ended up playing a swing 
piece straight because swing drumming sounded so incongruous. It was 
embarrassing, almost as bad as British choirs trying to sing Gospel 
music.

Tom Sheridan
Percussionist, Failsworth Band
Manchester UK

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