Western Swing Aiding My Jazz

Date: 5 Jul 2003 03:34:11 -0700
Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.guitar.jazz
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I got inspired to sit down and pick some old western swing tunes. I
enjoyed slowly playing San Antonio Rose. All of the sudden I was
playing out of my visual boxes and letting my ear do the leading
instead of my eyes. (A problem that I've struggled with for a long
time)
I actually swanged! The lines were really good.
So here is what I think:
We know that western swing lends itself to plain or jazzy playing. But
I think that it is the 'folksy' non-pretensious nature of this music
that made me feel like I didn't have to live up to the Jazz Gods
watching from on high. It's probably just my problem, but when I play
a Miles tune, for example, I feel the pressure to live up to something
or another.
Western swing demands nothing but a smile. So it kinda set me free.
This make be helpful only to me but you might try playing a western
swing tune if you know one...and see what happens. Great practice
cause there are loaded with 2/5/1 all over the place and you can stay
in or take it out as far as you want.
Henry (In Texas of course)