[Trombone-l] Coffee talk...

[mikesuter@adelphia.net]

Hello,

Alisha asked a simple question with no caveat. I answered with complete honestly. I would rather play bad music with good musicians than vice versa. Please note I made no mention of professional standing, union membership, how much or little fun I'd have at said gig, or the amount of money that would be in my pocket when I left. I just stated “good” musicians.

I’ll stand by that.

Now, here’s where I always get in trouble. That’s because some of you feel honor bound to defend mediocrity (BTW, I’m not attributing the quotes I use because I want it clear I’m not attacking the writer): 

<<Playing music with people you like is so much more enjoyable.>>

Not necessarily. Playing a piece of music the best it can be played – without the “for a bunch of …” added – is a huge rush. One that mediocre players never experience. Sorry, but it’s true. 
The best a mediocre player can attain is mediocrity. 
Does this mean I don’t respect mediocre players? NO! It means I see them for what they are. 
Does this mean I don’t play with mediocre players? NO! It means that I prefer playing with top-level players. 
Does this mean I do not or cannot have fun playing with mediocre players? NO! It means I alter my expectations in these situations.
And maybe my outlook is skewed. When you’ve been fortunate enough to be in good/great situations all your life, mediocrity is a drag. But this doesn’t mean my message is wrong. I am telling the truth as I see it.

<<As I get older fun becomes more important …>>

Same here. But for me it means finding opportunities to play with only the best players. For me this has meant starting my own band (Slidewerke) and recording it (The Geezer Strikes! American Creative Music acm0001). 

I guess my definition of ‘fun’ differs from most of you all. The top of my list is playing great music with good players. Next is playing any level of music with good players. The two bottom on my list are playing good music with bad players and playing bad music with bad players.

I’m not writing this to be controversial. And I’m not being mean spirited. I hope you all understand that I LOVE everything about the trombone world – including the players. But SOMEBODY has to tell the truth. Otherwise we cannot progress.  

There’s no shame in being a mediocre, or weak, or bad, or weekend, or whatever level player one is. But trying to re-invent it just cheapens all music. 

I’ve kept my sentences direct enough so as to hopefully not allow anyone to put words in my mouth. I mean what I’ve said, but nothing more and nothing less. If you don’t agree (I’d be amazed if you did) please argue my words, not some twisted re-interpretation of them.

With Respect, Mike Suter