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Re: No Swing in the U.K.? (cross pond point of view)

I have never heard a British band live and therefore cannot comment upon
that aspect of the thread.  However, I have played in many American "swing"
bands and would like to make a few commentaries.

(1)  The person who spoke of swing being similar to baroque ornamentation
in that it wasn't fully notated and players were expected to know what to
do on their own is a grand comparison.  To illustrate: I had a friend on
the tour band backing Pia Zadora on her "Pia and Phil" tour.  The
arrangements were British.  The arranger had attempted to notate just how
the music was to be performed.  It was rife with double and triple flags
tied to double and triple notes.  In general, a mess to an American
musician.  The rehearsals were not going well.  Finally when a phrase
sounded particularly crunched the conductor exclaimed, "You are supposed to
be professional musicians.  Why can't you play
'du-ba-da-du-ba-da-dut-dot-dot' (or whatever)?"  Immediately pencils came
flying out and musicians were pencilling in quarters and eighths (quavers
and semis?) above the notation.  At that point the conductor went through
the entire set of charts in such manner, the players wrote the "straight"
notation above the inked parts, and everything sounded great.

(2) Complicating this is the fact that swing is not a fixed mutation of the
rhythm.  The 12/8 concept is only correct at certain tempi in certain
situations.  It is even possible for perfectly "straight" notes to "swing."
For a simple illustration consider Charlie Parker playing a gazillion notes
per bar in a standard bop tune.  Now think of what it would sound like if
the 12/8 formula were to be strictly applied.
Many factors influence whether or not music swings.  Rhythm is one.
Articulation is another of at least equal importance.  The phrasing is
another.
Count Basie used to audition lead trumpet players on Lil' Darling (a very
slow chart).  He took it for granted that they could play high, loud, and
fast.  What he wanted to hear was where they placed the eighth notes on
that slow piece (with the correct place being where all of his other
trumpets placed them, continuity of the band's style and such).

Can a UK band swing?  Probably, but not if being told things like, "Make
these notes longer and these notes shorter."

Stepping down from my soapbox podium and returning to the lurker caverns....

Dennis

Dennis M. Taylor
Shepherdstown, WV
dtaylor@xxxxxxxxxxxx


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