Alright, we can all breathe normally now. Enjoy the calm.
I love cats. I’ve lived with them practically everyday since moving out of my parent’s home. I must love cats because, as a bandleader, I’ve attempted to herd them for many years. The same might be said if you’re the day manager of Pizza Hut – herd cats. I did that job for awhile, by the way. I don’t want to do that again but it paid some bills plus all the pizza one could stomach.
On to music.
Who is the dude? Who is the person that comes up with the ideas, signs the checks, negotiates the deals, writes the music, does the interviews, provides the credit for all the travel arrangements, keeps the books, collects the receipts, pays the taxes, mails the checks out, has likely spent years starving and building his scene before you ever got there, and as well takes the heat if things go in the crapper? That's probably the dude. Identify him or her and make sure they are happy. If they are happy, things stand a chance of going great. – Danny Barnes on “How To Play In Someone Else’s Band”
I use Barnes’ advice as a sideman in other projects. When I’ve strayed, I have paid the price. (read the whole thing, especially you musicians)
As a bandleader, especially since I’ve never had a touring band, I don’t have many rules. So the herding of cats is not as hard as it sounds when you’re mostly playing locally (Although my feeling is the band should bring it locally as if they were playing a major showcase in NYC, but that’s just me. You give it all). What I do say to players, when I think it’s necessary, is to PLAY THE SONG. Don’t play the notes. Don’t play a beat. Just listen to the song and respond. What’s the song about? What’s the feel? Play less, listen more. It’s worked out pretty well as the last several of years (not counting the pandemic period) I’ve been blessed with a damn tight ensemble. It makes it fun when you can just relax and play.
As Charles Mingus said, “Creativity is more than just being different. Anybody can play weird; that's easy. What's hard is to be as simple as Bach. Making the simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity.”
Which leads us to this. These scribblings are hand scrawled in 1960 by a young, white sax player by the name of Steve Lacy after briefly joining Thelonious Monk’s band (along with John Coltrane!). At some point Monk took Lacy aside and gave him these 25 priceless gems of advice for the music scene and life in general.
1. Just because you’re not a drummer, doesn’t mean you don’t have to keep time.
2. Pat your foot & sing the melody in your head, when you play.
3. Stop playing all that bullshit, those weird notes, play the melody!
4. Make the drummer sound good.
5. Discrimination is important.
6. You’ve got to dig it to dig it, you dig?
7. All reet!
8. Always know… (monk )
9. It must be always night, otherwise they wouldn’t need the lights.
10. Let’s lift the band stand!!
11. I want to avoid the hecklers.
12. Don’t play the piano part, I’m playing that.
13. Don’t listen to me. I’m supposed to be accompanying you!
14. The inside of the tune (the bridge) is the part that makes the outside sound good.
15. Don’t play everything (or every time); let some things go by. Some music just imagined. What you don’t play can be more important than what you do.
16. Always leave them wanting more.
17. A note can be small as a pin or as big as the world, it depends on your imagination.
18. Stay in shape! Sometimes a musician waits for a gig, & when it comes, he’s out of shape & can’t make it.
19. When you’re swinging, swing some more!
20. (What should we wear tonight?) Sharp as possible!
21. Don’t sound anybody for a gig, just be on the scene.
22. These pieces were written so as to have something to play, & to get cats interested enough to come to rehearsal.
23. You’ve got it! If you don’t want to play, tell a joke or dance, but in any case, you got it! (to a drummer who didn’t want to solo).
24. Whatever you think can’t be done, somebody will come along & do it. A genius is the one most like himself.
25. They tried to get me to hate white people, but someone would always come along & spoil it.
And now for today’s philosophical moment…
Just remember, a genius is the one most like himself.
So freaking great, and great advice from Monk!
Great post. My experience playing with others is minuscule compared to yours, but I aspire to do more in the future whether formally or informally. Being interested in people and interpersonal dynamics, I found this a fascinating read. I also read "the whole thing" at the Danny Barnes link, and appreciate that link, Gary. I watched his video for "Hey Man" and enjoyed it, I was unfamiliar with him before. Thanks Man! Or should I say, thanks Dude!