| 06/07/12 -
Hi Fred, I am a big follower of many of the bands who you have on your site, and indeed many others who are touring bands. I try to get to festivals when I can and support the people who have many years of experience playing Trad Jazz. The vast majority of bands are well presented in their stage appearance and look well turned out suited and booted. I have to say though, on a few recent events that I have been to, there has been someone in the band that appears as though they might have been sleeping rough and just got out of bed. "Scruffy" might be an understatement to describe them. Why don't the people who are either guesting or even a members of an established band take pride in their appearance? They let the rest of the band members down who have taken the trouble to look well presented. Is it familiarity that the fact it can only be a pub as the venue? After all you would not go to see a concert, and expect the orchestra dressed in swimwear, would you? The late great Dave Savill was always dressed immaculate, irrespective of where he performed". acquaintances. - Peter Gibson 07/07/12 - Hi Fred, In reply to Peter Gibsons’ comments re ‘correct band dress'. Just what is that; stripped waistcoats and bowler hats? long scarves and berets? straw boaters (God forbid!). Surely the yardstick is not what a guest or even band member looks like but how well they can play. Scruffiness is in the eye of the beholder whereas good jazz is in the ear of all! As to the question of orchestras in swimsuits---it could catch on, especially if it was during a performance of Handel's Water Music. - Jeff Roberts 07/07/12 - Hi Fred, Peter Gibson was so right when he says that the late Dave Savill dressed immaculately, I well remember Dave in full suit and tie plus highly polished shoes playing on the back of a Lorry with Bruce Carnaffin and I. Dave was a great player and a great guy and he is sorely missed "A TRUE PROFESSIONAL" - Unwin Nunns 08/07/12 - Re Jeff Roberts' comments: As Jeff is the only one who mentions "correct band dress", he's arguing with himself there. Peter Gibson doesn't ask for that, merely that players actually dress as if they care what they look like, and that they have some respect for an audience who have made an effort to pay to see them. Actually Jeff, some bands could benefit from looking good: That's the first impression, and can distract the audience a little from maybe how not so good they sound! - Cheers, Jon Critchley
09/07/12 - Many years ago I did a dep job for a band doing a gig in a pub, the dress was very glittery waistcoats and boaters, to be honest I felt a bit stupid but I was getting paid. In the interval I got chatting to three elderly ladies and asked them if they enjoyed the band, one of them said to me, "You can tell its a proper jazz band from the way you dress'". I rest my rather sad case. - Barrie Marshall 09/07/12 - I know that I'm old fashioned, but as a professional musician of many years standing, I wouldn't dream of turning up to play in anything other than a jacket, clean shirt and tie with trousers that have a crease and polished shoes, or dinner jacket if required. It's a matter of personal pride. Sloppy dress usually means sloppy playing. Respect the audience who have paid to see you. There are too many folk who think it's clever to dress as "Man at Oxfam" when turning up to play. - Louis Lince 09/07/12 - Seems Jon you have found me out, arguing with oneself happens at a certain age! thankfully you can’t have reached it yet! So you expound the theory that looking smart is often a cover for bad musicianship. Exactly my point—it’s not how you look but how you play that matters.
Let me refer
you to the O.E.D. definition of smart, neat, trim, stylish,
fashionable, elegant in a high degree. Now just what is that? To
one person nothing less than a suit and tie is the criterion, to
someone else it is a casual sweater or polo shirt. This I think
illustrates the wonderful diversity of jazz fans and musicians
from all spectra of society, drawn together by the music.
Audiences and players are diminishing as fast as the venues they
play in are closing, let us not discourage any neophytes by
imposing a playing and watching dress code. How long before we
see 'smart casual—no trainers. Ties preferred’ on the door of
our local club? 09/07/12 -
I agree with
Peter Gibson that a scruffy appearance is disrespectful to an
audience, but I can't recall when I last saw a scruffy musician
09/07/12
My good
friend and colleague John Muskett should remember that (a) The
pictures were in the USA where it's not a social gaffe to wear a
hat indoors and (b) It's usually hotter there so jackets may be
discarded. Have a look at the San Jacinto hall recording
sessions where they're wearing vests (in the UK sense!) 10/07/12 - I have noticed that in Rock music if they have a female singer she often looks gorgeous and dresses beautifully but the guys seem to be wearing jeans and tee shirts they have had for years, worn for years and have never been washed but the band just about always plays very well. I remember a lot of years ago, about 40, seeing and hearing a band, the clarinet player looked like he had slept in his clothes and looked very tired but it did not detract from his wonderful clarinet playing, I cant remember the name of the band or clarinetist. Barrie Marshall
11/07/12 -
Here is a story regarding scruffy`performers. Neither the group's scruffy appearance nor their timekeeping seemed to do them any harm. They kept on getting gigs, and, in fact, still exist.
Oh! Their
name? The Rolling Stones! (Wonder if they are still wearing them? - Fred) 12/07/12 - I have always subscribed to Thelonious Monk's approach. Dress ; sharp as possible. I also think hats and braces are very acceptable having numerous examples of both but I have always thought that musicians at the more modern end of jazz carry the smart clothes thing better. Still, if someone has had a recent wash and brushed his knitted sweater he will probably pass muster. Moe Green The subject raised its head again in 2014 when Norman Gibson wrote - 12/04/14 - At the weekend I went along to see Trevor Foster ( lovely clarinet player ), and the rhythm section of his regular band, who were accommodating a very fair trumpet player from Scotland, and a very handy Northern Ireland trombone player/vocalist, as guests. It was an extra event run by East Belfast Jazz Club and the overall performance was very enjoyable. It was a pity the lighting over the band was not bright enough, but, as a number of people were heard to comment, it was just as well as these two front men were dressed more akin for gardening than out front with a band on a Saturday evening ! Obviously, I have refrained from naming the said players. - Norman Gibson 13/04/14 - I have just read Norman Gibson's letter regarding the sartorial tastes of these two musicians. To turn up for a job looking like you have just been planting potatoes shows a complete lack of respect for the audience. I don't know where this attitude comes from. Some musicians seem to think that looking like they have been sleeping in a doorway is part of the jazz ethic. You have only to look at old photos of bands from the 20's to see that these musicians took a pride in their appearance. These present day scruffs would not have got through the door of one of those old clubs. - Moe Green. 13/04/14 - Totally agree with Moe Green about turning up smartly attired. And if Tuba Skinny want to play concerts in the UK they will have to smarten themselves up. Dirty jeans/cut-offs, tennis shoes and t-shirts are NOT the way to go. - Louis Lince 14/04/14 - Moe generally uses very colourful descriptive language, and whereas I know where he is coming from, I have to say his words used did not come from me. Just making the point I felt was appropriate as, in eight years of running jazz evenings, I personally have never had any musicians turn up in dress which caused offence. Re; Louis Lince comment - will see what I think when we see Tuba Skinny at FestJazz Brittany in July. - Norman Gibson 14/04/14 - Hello Fred, In the light of comments on matters sartorial by Norman (12 and 14/04/14), Moe and Louis (13/04/14), should there be a band called Tuber Skinny? Harmoniously (and moderately tidily), - John Muskett 14/04/14 - Regarding my old mate Norman Gibson's remarks about our clubs special event at the Ivanhoe hotel, unfortunately I have to agree with him. A couple of the musicians were not dressed appropriately for a jazz event, but luckily the stage lighting was not right so it helped to disguise their attire. Although I was not too happy, I did not say anything as I generally leave dress code to the discretion of the musicians. On the plus side they played a great selection of tunes, all in the Eddie Condon style & the audience certainly enjoyed it. At the moment we are preparing for our third jazz festival in October & with a bit of luck we may be honoured with another visit from Norm. - George Smyth East Belfast Jazz Club 15/04/14 - Hi Fred It is one extreme to the other on musicians' dress. Kevin Grenfell and his Jazz Giants came to our 120+ audience last night, and they were all immaculately 'suited and booted' and wearing jazz ties on their white shirts. A pleasure to see - matching their great talent. - Norman Gibson 16/04/14 - I have been turning over Louis Lince's statement that Tuba Skinny 'if they want to play in the UK they would have to smarten themselves up.' He seems to have lost track of the many street, swamp and ad hoc groups that play, mainly on Royal, during the French Quarter festival in New Orleans. It is quite acceptable for these young people to wear what they feel like on the street ( doubt if any clothing would be dirty ! ), as most of visiting jazz fraternity are similarly dressed. However, it can be seen from the photo' herewith, when they appear indoors to an audience, their dress is comfortably casual befitting to their style and exuberance. If they come next year I will be more than pleased to have them perform for me in that attire.
Norman Gibson 17/04/14 - Personally, I think a well turned out band shows professionalism, intensity and pride, but it is not the ‘be all and end all’. We have all seen a shift in fashion – most of the so called ‘fashionable’ clothes these days are the crumpled efforts on pegs throughout many high street shops and boutiques. Would I purchase these personally – no chance! Wouldn’t give yer tuppence for it. Whether they are popular through the choice of the nation, or in the mind of wannabe designers – who will ever know……but folks are buying ‘em! In recent years we have generally become a ‘dressing down’ nation – perhaps this applies worldwide. I do think it’s unfair to stick a ‘label’ on those looking for an edge, as opposed to those who are simply not THAT bothered about appearance though. With reference to Tuba Skinny, I have already expressed an opinion that this is a raw, infectious street band, and, in my opinion, seeing them ‘glammed up’ on stage during a performance on the tour of Oz, spoiled the product. The spontaneity of their performance and the surroundings adds to their appeal and is what they are about – just my view. Terry Cheney 18/04/14 - Can’t help smiling at some of the comments re ‘scruffy dress’. If the musicians were getting anything like MU rates (currently £108 per player per 3 hour gig) the punters might have good reason to complain. Zoob Lington 18/04/14 -
A few
thoughts on band dress code. I normally like to be smart but
there are times when this isn't possible or appropriate. Having
experience of the rough, tough Peak District and Staffordshire
Moorlands, I have played in pubs where green wellies would not
be out of order. In other pubs the beer was so good there was a
risk you would be crawling out, and I wouldn't want to ruin my
best trousers. I have walked through snow to local gigs and
played in my boots, but these were black and highly polished,
not scruffy hiking boots. There are dangers in looking too
smart, playing more formal gigs wearing black and white I have
been mistaken for a waiter on a number of occasions. Mad Ed
always asks me to be loud and tasteless, but I'm never sure if
this applies to my shirt or my musicianship. Whichever, I seem
to fit in. Anyway, how about a rule that waistcoats may only be
worn by people who can actually button them up? 20/04/14 - Having stepped of the plane from New Orleans earlier today, I can add my comments to this forum. I did get to see the afore-mentioned band a couple of times, plus several others including the marvellous Doreen Ketchen. Yes, they may appear 'scruffy' to the average UK jazz audience on the YouTube clips, (no mention yet of the stubbly beards, tattoos and nose-piercings), but the point is that they dress appropriately for their age and can identify with their audience - an audience mainly in their twenties and thirties for indoor ticket gigs, which are always sold out. The 'happening' clubs along Frenchmans (Spotted Cat, Three Muses, d.b.a etc) are full of mainly younger people revelling and dancing to the absolutely authentic New Orleans sounds being reproduced by these young enthusiastic bands - a situation badly needed here in the UK. We simply can't expect young people here to be 'cool' when going to to a jazz gig with their granddads! In the street, bands often play in temperatures over 90 degrees with very high humidity, so loose casual clothing is very appropriate. Many of the bands playing on the street are just that - street bands playing for tips, trying to get on the ladder up to something bigger, and club gigs that might pay more. However, make no mistake that many of these bands play true to New Orleans musical roots, and they are very much the torch-bearers for the future, and acknowledged by some of the older masters. 30 or 40 watching tuxedos or musical braces, or 300 paying to listen to scruffy - you decide. Barry Pryme 22/04/14 - I am in accord with Barry Prime's letter. I remember playing with a band in the French Market many years ago and it was HOT ( the temp. as well as the band ) ! and yes, I was wearing tee shirt, shorts and sandals. Anything else would have been impossible. I have been thinking about this dress thing and while I like to see a smartly dressed band I can look at it from the younger end of the spectrum. Years ago most people dressed smartly because that is what they did. It was the norm but there has been a big change in the way that people dress. I find it sad that when I attend a concert by the Halle Orch. lots of people look like they have just popped into Asda for a loaf ! But that is just me. Young bands have got to relate to a young audience and that includes the way they dress. Old people in suits must be very off putting. I like to dress reasonably smartly partly in homage to the musicians of the 30's and 40's ( that sounds a bit daft but there you are ). I agree that the music comes first before fashion although I did once try a string vest and matching jock strap. Moe. Green 22/04/14 - At my age, not far behind Moe, people may expect me to dress 'my age', but those who know me know I generally dress down casual. I do appreciate the advice on MU rates, and, although I can't see what it has to do with musicians' dress, I can from here on save some money on band fees ! Norman Gibson
22/04/14 -
23/04/14 - Some years ago I was starting to give jazz lectures on cruise ships and I attended a series of talks (about public speaking) by Arnold Burman. The point that he made, amongst many others, was that if you want to give some gravitas to your presentation, rule number one is to be better dressed than your audience. If they are in shirtsleeves, you wear a tie. If they wear a ties, you wear a jacket. If they wear jackets, you wear a suit. You only need to be “one better”. This rule applies equally to entertainers and jazz bands should never forget that they are primarily there to entertain their audience. I’m certainly NOT talking fancy waistcoats and bowler hats – just common manners out of respect for the audience by whose grace the musician is given the opportunity to create his music. I’m sorry if this offends the lazy ones but I do feel the truth has to be told. - Chris Walker 25/04/14 -
These are my
final words on the subject (probably to many folk's relief) Does
Duncan Ledsham (who commented on the re The AM Cover of the San
Jacinto recording session) not know that this was a recording
session made in the evening during the middle of a hot New
Orleans summer in an unventilated room - it was not a public
performance. In Bill Russell's diaries he recounts that George
was embarrassed by the picture. When the Lewis and Ory bands
played in the UK in 1959 they wore Dinner Jackets or suits
dependent on the venue. I was there and saw them. When they
played in The USA they wore suits or sports jackets and flannels
with collar and tie - there's an abundance of photographic and
video evidence.
27/04/14 -
I would like
to assure Louis Lince that I am fully aware of the circumstances
regarding the American Music San Jacinto recording session. Mr
Lince unfortunately misses the point I make; 'don't judge an
album by its cover'. 2020 It all started up again with this 17/08/20 - Put ' 7 days of Satch' in Youtube search and treat yourself to seven shows starting with 49 minutes of a very good Tuba Skinny session. I'll be working my way through them all over the next day or so. The heavily tattooed Miss Lake will be next. We saw her in Edinburgh last year - she's good. - Norman Gibson. 17/08/20 - I really enjoyed it, it shows they are not just a busking band they are very well rehearsed" - Barrie Marshall. 19/08/20 - Re: Tuba Skinny at 7 Days of Satch. What a scruffy lot. My experience is that musicians play better as a band if they look like a band! Just another falling standard. Louis would never have appeared looking like that. - Chris Walker. (Just what my wife said Chris - Fred) 20/08/20 - I'm 85 and I don't have any problem with Tuba Skinny being dressed as the NOLA street musicians they are, and playing to no audience during this Covid 19 period, to give us some exceptionally good music. I've met most of them when they played at Fest Jazz Brittany about five years ago, when I, and a couple of others, made approaches to try and get them to the UK to play for us, and they are polite articulate young people. I'm afraid I muttered the 'B' word when I read Chris's letter and wonder if he has had visits down New Orleans way. Did he by chance try just closing his eyes, pretending they were dressed in his, obviously preferred, striped coloured jackets, boater hats behind their music stands, and just absorb the feel of the well learned music played from the heart and soul ? Oh, and by the way, Barnabus (Tbn) does have red underpants under the split in his trousers! - Norman Gibson 20/08/20 - Re. Tuba Skinny's attire. If Tuba Skinny are trying to appeal to people of their own age, then I think their "image" is correct. I don't think that young people can identify with jazz musicians dressed in smart band uniforms. - Dave Davis. 20/08/20 - Dave Davis is correct, I think. End-of-the-pier waistcoats, gaudy shirts, musical ties and jaunty hats, on any age group are just silly.. I think a band can dress smartly in their own individual attire and still look like a band. - Jon Critchley 21/08/20 - Seems the debate from a few years ago is rearing its head again, namely, what should bands wear. As I maintained then, isn't it the music that matters most? Seeing Tuba Skinny on the corner of Royal in NOLA suited and booted would be a ludicrous sight and remember, one persons 'smart attire' could be anathema to someone else. - Jeff Roberts 21/08/20 - As Jeff Roberts said, the question of scruffy bands has been discussed here before, but I feel the need to clarify what Chris Walker didn't say. He never mentioned waistcoats striped coats or boaters so I'd prefer the discussion didn't go down that road, that's a red herring. I'll leave it to Chris to expand if he wishes, but this was a stage presentation not a street one that he was talking about. Barbara and I ran a jazz club back at the turn of the century, and it was on a Sunday night. The punters arrived looking well dressed and smart, they paid good money to see the band, and there was no doubt about it, it was much appreciated if the band took the same amount of trouble if only to wear white shirt and trousers, hardly uniform, but smart. Musicians that turned up in worn out jeans and trainers for a paying audience didn't do themselves any favours, but I have to say, it rarely happened. Easy to write it off by saying they came to listen to the music not watch the musicians, in which case they could have bought their inevitable CD and gone home without paying to come in. - Fred (I'm not used to offering comment!). 23/08/20 - That piece about well dressed musicians brings memories back, I went to see Chris Barber at a concert they were well dressed bow ties etc. after that they came to Kendal Jazz Club Monty Sunshine was still in the band, at the club they just wore their day clothes. I did a dep gig with Lune Valley, glittery waistcoats and boaters, I got chatting to three elderly ladies in the break one said you can tell your a proper jazz band from the way you dress! - Barrie Marshall 25/08/20 - The discussion on whether Tuba Skinny looked scruffy or not (Chris Walker 19/08), has developed into the same discussion we had on the site some years ago, suits, pin stripes, formal, informal, what counts good or bad musicians etc., but looking scruffy is about appearance, and that in itself is in the eye of the beholder. It's not about musicianship, so all emails from here on will be added to the original article, where you will see many of the same points raised previously. 23/08/20 - This comment will surely cause a flurry. Who cares if the band looks, scruffy, isn't it the music that we came for not a fashion statement. Perhaps you would prefer straw hats and striped waistcoats. Its the talent the TALENT that we love. - Bernie Hives (Detroit) 23/08/20 - Just a thought, if you had two bands one that was clean and smartly dressed but were not much good and you had a brilliant band not very well dressed which would you prefer? 23/08/20 - Tuba Skinny are a truly great band going right back to the source of the music. - Sheila Collier 23/08/20 - Stop moaning about Tuba Skinny... Their success says it all. Good luck to them - Pete Lay
24/08/20 -
In the
late sixties or early seventies, when I was tentatively feeling
my way into the jazz world, I saw a very good band playing at
the Opposite Lock, Birmingham, where I was living at the time. I
remember being struck by the fact that they looked so ordinary.
They weren't scruffy, but neither were they identically dressed
or, as far as I could see, following a dress code. Sports
Jackets and flannels, ties, open-neck shirts or sweaters come to
mind - certainly no denims, and the overall impression was of a
group of blokes - bank-clerks, teachers, civil servants perhaps
- who came out in the evening after work to play jazz together
and then went home to their suburban houses, wives and kids. One
day someone like this might live next door or along the road
from me. One day I might be someone like this. 23/08/20 - After reading a few comments about smartness and waistcoats etc. I recall that I never saw any musician dressed in a scruffy way in the early days.We had more pride than that! OK ,when Acker Bilk And his band started playing and had their waistcoats and bowlers, it started a trend. I think that is why Paddy McKeirnan got us to play in striped jackets and boaters. I remember playing a concert at The Free Trade Hall with Acker’s band, and the write up in Manchester Evening News called it “Colourful Jazz” I think the scruffy bit for some musicians came a bit later when the rock and rollers came in. As for The Cavern,we were smartly dressed there as we were on show even before we changed to the blazers, I still have my jacket after 60years! - Brenda Canty-Forrest (Tomkins) 24/08/20 - I’ve just listened to the Tuba Skinny concert at the 7 days of Satch. I’ve being doing some paper work and had their concert on as background music. I’m sitting on the fence with regard to them being scruffy. Scruffy they may be but I thought what such a good programme. Great tunes and arrangements. What was interesting that from the 150 comments about their performance I don’t think there was one comment about their dress code. They’ve had 36,000 views, 1K thumbs up and 23 down. Peter Swensson. 24/08/20 - in a local hotel, the guest star was a trumpeter from Scotland sitting in with some local musicians. They all appeared on the stage dressed as though they had been out working in the garden. It did not go down too well with some of the audience. However the music was fantastic, I don't think I ever heard them playing so well. The moral of the story is, they all came to hear some great music and that's what they got. Enough said - George Smythe 25/08/20 - Speaking for myself, I discovered the Tuba Skinny band, on YouTube, only a couple of years ago, not having heard of them previously. I think they make great Jazz Music for which I am very grateful. Power to their elbows. - Martin Snow
26/08/20 -
The conversation about
Tuba Skinny’s on stage dress sense needs to be discussed. For
over ten years Tuba Skinny has been a very highly popular jazz
band, listened to, by thousands who watch their performances on
Royal Street, their club performances at ‘d.b.a’, ‘Maison’
‘Three Muses’ or on-stage at the French Quarter Festival and New
Orleans Historical Jazz Fest. They have sold thousands of CDs,
and been viewed by millions on YouTube. I’d like to think that
is due to folk enjoying their performances and not as much about
their attire. In fact, I ask, what are buskers supposed to look
like? They are young folk wearing their normal daily attire.
Would anyone quibble about the Rolling Stones or any other top
named Rock band performing their sell out concerts in jeans and
T-shirts – I don’t think so. Would Tuba Skinny sound any better
or sell anymore CDs if they wore suits and ties, or dinner
jackets, or even striped blazers/waistcoats etc... of course
not. They’ve done numerous TV performances around the world,
sell out concerts etc, etc and I bet the audience didn’t bat an
eye-lid about what they were wearing. It’s their music that
matters, the busker image is one they set themselves, it is
their band uniform. 26/08/20 - I remember many years ago we (The Original Panama Jazzband) used to have regular gigs with Humph in Liverpool: Once, when we were appearing at The Blundell Sands Hotel with Humph guesting, the great Joe Temperley, Humph’s then baritone sax sideman, turned up at the Hotel to see Humph: He had just arrived from New York and was dressed in an immaculate, albeit, denim, suit. The manageress of the Hotel, Vicky Williams (wife of our drummer Bill at that time) was called to the entrance and told Joe he could not come in dressed like that in denim! “But I’ve just flown in from New York and I’ve come to see Humph” he exclaimed. No deal, she was adamant that the hotel dress code did not allow denim. Eventually, Humph came to the rescue and all was well in the end! Don’t think Vickie would tolerate a lot of the apparently acceptable causal scruffy look nowadays! The Panama chaps dress smart in their own individual clothes: casual might mean no tie, but still smart individual. - Jon Critchley 30/08/20 - The way you ‘turn out’ is part of the performance. If the punters have made an effort so should we. Although...Tuba Skinny look and sound great as a ‘Street’ band, and that isn’t meant as a derogatory remark. - Mike Lovell
02/09/20 - Maybe the Mike Lovell band had made sufficient effort when they donned their white shirts and bow ties. Had they turned up on stage like that, they would have cringed if all the audience had turned up in those OTT jackets. Come back Tuba Skinny in your street gear all is forgiven. - Norman Gibson 06/09/20 - Norman, obviously doesn’t have a clue. I mentioned in my piece that Tuba Skinny not only play great jazz, but are great street entertainers and are absolutely fine in casual clothes. Get a grip Norman and leave us all alone. - Mike Lovell 06/09/20 - Why oh why, call it ‘street gear’. They are wearing their daily casual clothes, nothing more, nothing less. I’ve seen Robin turn up in a suit one day! They don’t look any scruffier than a lot a bands we see here, such as Baby Jools and Richard Bennett’s band or Dorine De Wit – they are all usually wearing casual clothes during their performances – when needs be they have turned out in DJs, but unlikely on a normal jazz club gig. By referring to Tuba Skinny’s ‘street gear’ it is only giving the wrong impression about the band. Yes, they do play on the street, but never scruffy as such, but playing on the street is only a percentage of their gigs. Their attire is similar on all gigs!! Their attire is no different as ‘dress code’ as was Mississippi gamblers attire for the Bob Wallis band back in the 50s/60s. Please don’t denigrate a band that’s keeping Classic jazz alive and who do a pretty good job of it as well. Always well rehearsed and no time wasting either!!! - Pete Lay 06/09/20 - The discussion about band dress, scruffiness etc. reminded me about an experience with my own band back in the 1960s. We didn't have a uniform but would normally wear what would probably be described as 'smart casual' for most gigs, jazz clubs say, or for the occasional dinner dance engagement we'd each put on a dark suit. We played at Keele university and, compared with the students, looked overdressed in our smart casual, so when what we thought was a return booking came through a few weeks later we decided that 'scruff order' would be more appropriate and turned up accordingly. In fact a local Rotary Club had booked the venue for their annual ladies night and were there in dinner jackets with the ladies resplendent in long dresses. They were too polite to comment. but we did not have a comfortable evening. This sort if thing is perhaps a good reason for always wearing the same thing. It doesn't have to be bow ties and boaters; one band I depped with asked me to turn up in black trousers and a plain coloured shirt, the band members were dressed in a recognisably similar way, but not in uniform. - Keith Garner 07/09/20 - When told that the organizers of a large jazz festival thought that band uniforms were very important, Tony Pringle said (with a grin) "They are, when you can't play!". - John Dodgshon 14/09/20 - Should we not all broaden our love of jazz to the various styles and escape the recent dinosaur approach adopted by some readers on the subject of acceptable dress. I for one am in support of Norman Gibson's comments on the matter. Tuba Skinny are a well dressed outfit playing top class music and have to be congratulated in keeping the flame alive. Apart from Ken Colyer with Sammy Rimington on clarinet they beat any of the outfits in the Trad Boom and dare I mention their ridiculous attire. - Peter Bledge 15/01/24 - I'm going to add to the debate about band dress code. Have a look at John Hallam's gallery and see how to dress appropriately for the occasion. . - Paul Medina |
