My first jazz gig...

John Steele · Post by **John Steele** » 30 Sep 2001 9:30 am

Well, it finally happened - by accident rather than design, but, it happened.
It was 6 p.m. last night, two hours before my 8 o'clock gig at Bourbon's jazz club as the pianist with a quartet. That's when I gave up on hearing from the keyboard repairman that's had my piano for a week.
I wasn't sure just what to do, but I knew I had to do something...
I stood staring at the case for my Emmons (affectionately known as "the log") for several minutes before shaking my head and tossing it in the car.
Explaining the situation to the bass player/leader as I set up, I could see the doubt in his eyes as I strung it all together. Just my luck to find the drummer on the gig was Dougie Johnston, an old road warrior with little patience for amateurs. (and any instrument/player even remotely connected with country music). I fully expected him to either walk off the job, or toss me out.. but he didn't.
Right before we hit, I sheepishly asked the tenor sax player to take it easy on me, as I'd never done a jazz gig before. He grinned and said "that's your problem...hehe.. Moonlight In Vermont in 3 flats... one, two...
Well, it went Great !! By the middle of the second tune, Dougie leaned over and whispered "To hell with the piano!"
I wish I could say I turned into Herbie Wallace on the spot, but I didn't. My single string lines are still a bit weak, but my chord melody stuff is strong enough. The only tune I drew a blank on all night was "lullaby of the leaves", but I still got through it. Fear and trepidation from the other musicians turned into curiosity, and by the first break they took turns inspecting my steel like it was a rubix cube.
They all commented on what a great job it did of comping behind soloists. I have a feeling it would be welcomed on jobs again.
I'd only played one or two of the tunes before on steel, although I knew them all.
Some of the tunes were: Everything Happens to Me, Let's Fall in Love, You go to my Head, You'd be So Nice To Come Home To, Pennies from Heaven, Laura, You and the Night and the Music, Speak Low, Everytime We Say Goodbye, and several blues, i.e. C Jam, Tenor Madness... and lots of others.
By the end of the second set, the piano repairman had arrived with my keys, somewhat alarmed at his mistake. A guitarist, he sat for the rest of the evening in rapt attention.
I just had to tell this story to someone, and I knew you guys and gals would be the ones. I also mention it here because I owe alot of thanks to all the forum folk for being such a great help to me in getting started. Now that I've broken the ice, I have something to work for!
-John

Steve Feldman · Post by **Steve Feldman** » 30 Sep 2001 9:41 am

Way to go, <s>Herby</s> John![This message was edited by Steve Feldman on 30 September 2001 at 10:41 AM.]

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 30 Sep 2001 10:23 am

John; You almost had me nervous just reading about it ! Glad it went so well. I have sometimes wondered about being caught in a situation like that but it has never happened. Now I can enjoy your experience instead of going through it myself.

Regards, Paul

Jeff Lampert · Post by **Jeff Lampert** » 30 Sep 2001 11:37 am

Congratulations. Keep going for it.

Post by **Joey Ace** » 30 Sep 2001 12:09 pm

Atta boy Johnny!!!

The ice is broken, now swim!

-j0e-

Mike Cass · Post by **Mike Cass** » 30 Sep 2001 1:06 pm

John, youre a better man than me

Anne Marie O Keeffe · Post by **Anne Marie O Keeffe** » 30 Sep 2001 1:10 pm

Well done John......great to hear some postive news.

Roy Rosetta · Post by **Roy Rosetta** » 30 Sep 2001 1:32 pm

Way to go John.....

...I would never have had any doubt that you could handle it.
....Roy

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Music is a "gift" with many wrappings....
....Roy

Harry Hess · Post by **Harry Hess** » 30 Sep 2001 1:51 pm

Fantastic, John.

Tell 'em your keyboard needs extensive repairs and you'll need to stick with the PSG for awhile!

Good luck, keep at it.

Regards,
HH

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 30 Sep 2001 2:16 pm

Way to GO! Great story, and keep it up, man. We need ya out there pluggin' for the steel in jazzland.

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www.jimcohen.com

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 30 Sep 2001 4:50 pm

Hey John,
Jus tell um this is my new keyboard.
when I was playing clubs back in the 70s I used a Leslie cabnet and got that question all the time,what kind of keyboard is that.
Hang in there,we need more pioners(sp)and players with intestinal fortatude such as you apearantly have.

Bill Ford

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Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 30 Sep 2001 5:47 pm

John-Thank you for showing the jazz guys that the pedal steel can do it!

I have been in that situation years ago. I bring my guitar in and my Electra-Harp , I play the guitar for a couple of tunes, there is no piano, so I play the Electra-Harp. 6 pedals and 8 strings ,tuned E6.

All those tunes you mentioned, They laughed when I sat down to play,but after"Laura"and a couple of tunes, they say forget the guitar and play that "Thang" .

This was many many years ago and I am so glad that you went out there and showed them.

We need more of that to make the world realize that the pedal steel guitar is a very versatile musical instrument and can fit in with all kinds of music, besides "country".

Good luck to you and please keep on playing that jazz... ....al

P Gleespen · Post by **P Gleespen** » 1 Oct 2001 5:51 am

Good for you John! A very nice story indeed.

Dirk B · Post by **Dirk B** » 1 Oct 2001 9:55 am

John,
I'm envious. I know from your previous postings that you know something about jazz & theory. You may not be a Herby Wallace yet, but obviously you know enough to get through some difficult tunes and make a good impression. Good job.[This message was edited by Dirk B on 01 October 2001 at 10:56 AM.]

John Steele · Post by **John Steele** » 1 Oct 2001 12:34 pm

Thank you, one and all, for your kind comments.
I know if Jim or Al had been there, I would have been pretty nervous. My playing still needs alot of work, but it was very encouraging. I'm not ready to hang out my shingle yet, but it was fun.
Roy Rosetta, thank you... I think you are the only piano player in North America that didn't get a panic phone call from me at
at 6 p.m., begging to borrow a keyboard.

And, Mike Cass...if you're reading this; I wish you had been there, buddy. I would have loved to take a chair and watch you wipe up the floor with the band. Your modesty borders on being pathological, man.
I wish with all my heart that you would start to make plans to record some of your work. In a sea of swing plunkers like me, the world needs to hear someone that can really bop. I've never heard anyone more competent than you.
You were there in spirit - that old Emmons you rebuilt for me is a pearl. One guy asked me if it was new!

-John
President of the "Kidnap Mike and Take Him To A Studio Committee"

John Lacey · Post by **John Lacey** » 1 Oct 2001 2:25 pm

Cool, John. I had a similar experience about 5 or 6 years ago when Lincoln Frey, a jazz saxophonist and steel player, hired myself as a lead player in a little jazz combo doing standards. He just had charts from the Real Book, most of which I had jammed on before by myself and away we went. There was no attitude to contend with and I had a ball. It helped that Lincoln knew where I was coming from as well as the Country/swing guitarist, Mel Wilson. It's fun to break down those barriers, as long as you're somewhat prepared.

Bob Hayes · Post by **Bob Hayes** » 2 Oct 2001 8:23 am

John,
I love country music, but a couple of the first songs I learned on guitar were..lady is a Tramp,A Foggy day in London Town,and stuff like taht .along with May you Never Bee alone like me ,and On the Wings of a Dove.
When you hear a lot of the "BIG" players pickn' most of them are pickin' stuff like Herbie.....If you can play the" Lounge Stuff" on steel..it makes you a better picker..Just like western swing is "FUN"
so Right on!!!!
Grouchyvet

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 2 Oct 2001 7:09 pm

Congrats, John! I had no doubt you could do it. You did what you had to do. The show must go on...

Did you you play the '66 Emmons you got from me?

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My best,
Ernie

The Official Buddy Emmons Website
www.buddyemmons.com

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 3 Oct 2001 6:45 am

Congratulations John. I hope this become a regular thing for you from now on.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 3 Oct 2001 7:28 am

I always knew that once John got to playin' steel on jazz gigs, the rest of us would be in trouble. Fortunately, he doesn't have much hair, so at least Pete Burak is safe.

Gord Cole · Post by **Gord Cole** » 3 Oct 2001 12:55 pm

John, I just want to add my congratulatons. Keep up the good work. It's encouraging to us who keep on pluggin' away. Gord

Frank Estes · Post by **Frank Estes** » 3 Oct 2001 2:00 pm

Way to go, John. Given your depth of musical knowledge and being an accomplished Jazz pianist, I am not surprised at all that you were able "pull it off" on steel.

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 6 Oct 2001 9:29 am

Obviously your keyboard experience has stood you in good stead. Congratulations. If you ever get a chance to hear Kyoshi "Lion" Kobyashi, (Japan, of course), dig him...he plays great jazz piano and equally great jazz steel...often ignoring the pedals!

Larry Lenhart · Post by **Larry Lenhart** » 6 Oct 2001 4:40 pm

Way to go John ! That is great. I knew you could do it by just seeing the tabs that you have done on this forum. Your musical knowledge to me is amazing! I wish I had 1/100 th of your talent. I hope you get many more such opportunities. I really appreciate the CD you sent to me and enjoy it alot, man ! Great piano work. Must be nice to be so talented

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 6 Oct 2001 10:15 pm

As previously mentioned, obviously your jazz piano expertise has been applied to the steel with excellent results. Congratulations! Of interest, another jazz pianist/steel guitarist is Kyoshi "Lion" Kobayoshi in Japan who often ignores his pedals and plays some mighty impressive cool jazz on his steel. Personally, I feel a good piano education and background is a real benefit for playing any instrument.