The "List"

I was playing piano in a swing band for our local library's 200th anniversary. The band leader passed out a set list with the order of songs and chart numbers. I quickly arranged my charts in the performance order. Since the piano parts are several pages longer than the horn parts, I felt very confident that the gig would go well since I wouldn't have to be rummaging around the piano library case to find the next song.

Just before the fifth song, the bass player asked what number was next. I told him," 703 "Route 66". Then, the drummer told us that the leader just signaled to skip it (as it was a vocal number and our vocalist wasn't here yet).

Since the piano sits in front of the band leader, I never noticed that the leader was holding up a different chart than the list had. The bass player and I scrambled for the new number and came in just in time.

lesson learned,

just because a band leader passes out a set list doesn't mean that he will follow it.

good gigging!

Larry Marra

www.musicteachers911.com