Hello Everyone, Greetings from New Orleans

Treading Water · #1 09-23-2010, 02:21 PM

Hi, I have piddled with the guitar on and off for the last thirty years, but never could make the committment to join a band for one reason or another.
Over the years I seem to have accumulated some gear, and had the pleasure to meet some amazing musicians.
I was fortunate enough to get a teacher called Emily Remler who started me with some elementary jazz (30 years ago) and continues to inspire me today even though she is long deceased.
I recently found this site while searching for help with "Diamond Dust", but my studies for the last year have been trad. jazz. (I do live in New Orleans!)
I am looking forward to reading your posts and getting to know you, - and hopefully gaining some musical insight!

gingerjazz · #2 09-23-2010, 03:13 PM

Hi,Im in yorkshire England i would give anything to have studied with Emily Remler. How long have you lived in new orleans . I hope we can chat more about jazz and your experiences of studying with sutch an amazing player.

ECross · #3 09-23-2010, 06:44 PM

Welcome here.

derek · #4 09-24-2010, 09:28 AM

Welcome aboard Treading Water. Emily is much loved and respected here. Your experiences with her would be great to hear about.

rabbit · #5 09-24-2010, 12:34 PM

Welcome & +1 what everyone else said!

I love Trad Jazz.

Treading Water · #6 09-24-2010, 01:49 PM

Thanks for the welcome, everyone.
gingerjazz, I too, would love to study with Emily some more, and truth be told , I am learning more from her videos than I did that summer so long ago.
Emily was a beautiful person that very much impressed me with her diligence, grace and talent.
From what I've heard, she immersed herself in music, sacrificing all else to practice and gig.
I wish I could devote myself so!

gingerjazz · #7 09-24-2010, 02:25 PM

Hi Treadaing, are you a gigging musician and what style do you play.I now play mostly at home and am getting some serious woodshedding done, i found i couldnt progress while playing in a band and so decided to spend some time on theory and technique before getting back into that scene.

Treading Water · #8 09-24-2010, 02:41 PM

Here in New Orleans, there are a lot of great musicians. Buskers on street corners are amazing, playing for tips. I have seen great jazz players crammed in some bar, playing for tips.
I have a full time job, and don't relish the thought of getting home from paying gigs at 4a.m. but, I love to get together with some friends to jam in a backyard, at a bbq, or where ever.
Most of my friends play blues and rock n' roll, so jams are usually dependant on who can or wants to sing, and what song everyone knows how to play.
It's been my experience that I play/learn/progress best in a band situation as communication and co-operation with band mates is essential for the good of the music, but people come and go, and situations just don't seem to stay very constant for me.

gingerjazz · #9 09-24-2010, 03:04 PM

Treading i know what you mean its hard to find a steady band.What ifailed to mention wheni said i couldnt progress in a band, is i played in mostly blues rock covers bands where a lot of time is spent just learning songs.Which doesnt help much with the technical side of things. I suppose its different in a jazz setting where playing with others does help you progress as a musician.It took me years to realise how ignorent i had been with regard to what a musician reallywas. I KNEW LOADS of songs and thought i was doing ok until i took some lessons with a geat jazz musician , he put some chords in frontof me that had some key changes and said go.And i didnt know where to start thats when it all changedfor me,and what a rewarding journey that has set me on i only wish i could have found a great teacher earlier on in my life.Instead i was put of teachers for many years by paying a guy to give me sheets and sheets of tab that i could havegot from a book.Its so important to find the right teacher in music wouldnt you agree.