[TPIN] A Night with Mike Vax

[John Kool]

Mark, 
I am glad you posted. 
I enjoyed Vaxuosity in the spirit you mentioned. Entertaining. Enjoyable 
afternoon in a park. Lots of variety of style. 
To my knowledge, Mike has never proclaimed to be _the best_ at any one 
style. Many times he proclaimed how thrilled he was to have made a 
living doing something he enjoyed so much. Many times he applauded the 
efforts of others. 
 
So many TPINers have their heads so far up "in the clouds"  that he 
suffered so many attacks on TPIN, or at least from TPIN members off list 
that he is no longer "walking among us", if by us, you are referring to 
TPIN. At least, I have not noticed his posts in some time.
 
Some on the list justify the stereotype of the trumpet player who, upon 
greeting another trumpet player shakes his hand and says, "I'm better 
than you." (or at least, "So and so is better than you")  They seem to 
resent the idea of "just do it and have fun". (Not to diminish the need 
for technique and practice of course, but if we waited until all was 
perfect, some of us (may I suggest MOST of us) would never perform.  
Some no longer have heart in their over analyzed listening teaching and 
performing to just enjoy music. 
 
They certainly have that right.

However, Dominic Spera at a Jamey Aebersold camp I attended in the late 
70's told me one of the biggest causes of stage fright besides lack of 
preparation was criticizing the performance of others publicly.  It puts 
pressure on the critic to outperform.

Certainly, criticism is valid in the learning experience.

But, I pity the day I no longer enjoy music and can only criticize. I 
took a couple of junior high kids to hear a community band concert just 
this afternoon. An enjoyable hour.  Fun. Variety.  If I had to be a 
critic for the New York Times, I am sure I would not have enjoyed it at all.
 
Didn't Miles Davis refuse to re-do takes in the recording studio, saying 
something to the effect that without working around mistakes, it is no 
longer jazz?

I wish I could remember the exact quotation that paraphrased goes 
something like, "If the only birds in the forest to sing were those with 
perfect voices, the woods would be silent".
 
Glad, Mark, you got to spend some time with Mr. Vax.. 
Last time I saw him at University of Nebraska at Omaha, he was so busy, 
I doubt he even recognized my name from TPIN when I introduced myself. 
(He was pleasant, but drawn in many directions)
 
I look forward to spending some time with him over dinner or coffee when 
he is here this summer doing a clinic. 

As I would enjoy meeting so many of you and "talking trumpet", or better 
still, playing trumpet.

John
>
> Mark Schwartz wrote: 
> > Fellow TPINers, > 
> > > 
> > Having just spent a magical day with Mike Vax,<Snip>