I love mixing in jazz standards into my sets, but I need to know that the crowd will understand, or at least - APPRECIATE them. You can get away with Green Dolphin St, or How High The Moon, but try "Killer Joe" or "Joy Spring" (BTW - both have vocal arrangements by Manhatten Transfer that are awesome !) and you'll get a lot of weird stares, unless your crowd is on the hip side.

Machines are what they are, and whether it's 4 bars, 16 bars or more ... they will always have a degree of monotony. The inspriation has to come from within. Don't expect an arranger pattern to inspire you to blow great improv solos. Ain't gonna happen ! You gotta feel it INSIDE before you can push it OUTSIDE the horn.

On a side note - did you make your impulse purchase yet Boo? I know you're dying to spend some of that Scaffold money !

[This message has been edited by Uncle Dave (edited 08-22-2003).]