PREZ SEZ - April 2026

By Terry Rogers

Wow! What a cool afternoon of music performed by the Hot Lovin’ Jazz Babies from Portland this afternoon! I hope that you were there to enjoy it. Very skilled musicians with great respect for each other, all of whom listened carefully and provided needed space for each of their colleagues.

While listening to them, it occurred to me that there are many different ways to play this music. Today’s band relies heavily on arrangements, with written introductions, structured vocals, both solo and duets, with predetermined solos filling out the song and the endings. Despite that patterned structure, there was plenty of space to allow individual musicians to improvise, following the chord structure of the song. This patterned approach lends a sense of polish and finesse to any given piece being played and provides a sense of musical togetherness that is rewarded by the enthusiastic response from the audience.

There are those who enjoy and support traditional jazz who prefer that the presentation of the music should be more spontaneous and less structured. The whole band plays the song together once or twice, followed by a bunch of solos, then all come together to play a chorus—or two or three—to end the song. This approach allows for more spontaneity and some unexpected twists, like a trumpet and banjo duet for instance, and invites each musician to put their own stamp on the song being played. These approaches are not either/or, but can be combined. Thus, a band might not use written charts but have a distinct way and roadmap of how they would like to play it, usually at the discretion and direction of the leader, either established in the practice room or in the moment on the bandstand.

So, is there a right way and a wrong way to play traditional jazz? Heavens no. There is space for all kinds of ways to play this music. Think of two local bands from our past: Evergreen Classic Jazz Band (more structured), and The Rainier Jazz Band (less structured). I would drive a long way to hear either of these bands, because they both (and others also) were outstanding performers of this music. Every band that plays traditional jazz develops its own sound and its own persona, as well it should. We as individuals might prefer one approach and sound over another, but that is to be expected.

In the end, I think that Ella got it right: “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.”

See you on April 19!