VLOG: Jazz bullies // Ep 69

[@mikehawk2148]

These vlogs should be respected as a cultural landmark, it's pretty much what any musician needs to hear

[@christopherfischer6998]

I couldn’t agree more Bob! I would also argue to say that if Chris Potter ever showed up to a jam session, I highly doubt he’d vibe anyone. I’ve noticed a lot of the best of the best musicians are also very nice, positive, and encouraging, and don’t put others down.

[@bobreynolds]

So true (in my experience) » "I’ve noticed a lot of the best of the best musicians are also very nice, positive, and encouraging, and don’t put others down."

[@DerekBiryani]

Had no idea people went as far as wanting to "destroy" their bandmates. I've had my share of friendly, sportsmanlike competition at college but that kind of toxicity is just disgraceful and moronic. Glad you're helping to put this right!

[@jayriley4159]

Glad to have your vlogs back Bob. I have definitely experienced jazz bullying, although in a more subtle way. I was in a band and whereas I came from more of a rock/fusion angle, two of the members were conservertoire trained and had completed a 4 yr jazz course so were bebop machines. I always felt inferior and although I raised my game a lot I was often put down and it crippled my confidence. 8 years on and I'm in pretty much exactly the same place as those guys. I'm just starting to record and gig a completely new set of my own tunes. I run a jam session with an inclusive feel because a lot of the jam sessions I've experienced in the past are way too scary. It's harsh that people with low self esteem pick on others with low self esteem. Everyone's searching for the same thing and you're right that time makes a big difference (think tortoise and the hare). I'm probably a tortoise dosed up on sleeping pills and with a leg missing but at least I'm moving in the right direction. Jay

[@ozozoz111]

"Do your thing and let time take care of the rest!" This is my mantra from now on. It's deep. Thank you.

[@fr.peterowolabi1859]

It was crazy at Glasgow yesterday...14th October 2022...You nailed it.

[@walshythemusician]

"I can't wait to destroy you in that tune" ......... that is FUCKED UP.

[@coajrmusic]

Grew up in a head-cutting environment, where most guys were playing from the seat of their pants Not many knew anything and if you did, you kept it close as your secret weapon. I started going to New Orleans in 2000 and found a lot of players who knew a lot, played a lot and shared a lot. It's a supportive atmosphere where everybody gets better, and the true winner is the audience. I now share with anyone who might benefit from the few things I've learned.

[@jrgreiner]

Agreed, Bob. By our nature, we're competitive beings and I'm all for that. However, when (especially musicians) are over the top about it and feel that in some way they're proving they're superior is BS. I will freely admit that when I play with other saxophonists, I do my best to be at the top of my game and I'm sure they do the same. We all want to (for lack of a better term) "best" the other player, but we're all good friends and we also joke about how we all screw things up.....a lot. At the same time, I've learned a LOT from being destroyed by other players......past and present. I think it's good to sometimes get a good dose of humble pie when you think you can play something better than someone else and they literally hand your ___ to you. It certainly has taught me humility. I always tell my students to be *very* careful about overly criticizing someone else's playing, because 9 times out of 10, somewhere down the road, it's gonna bite them where the sun doesn't shine. You're spot on......time will take care of them/it.

[@thepartimemusician65]

Such a great guy and musical inspiration

[@laverdad8915]

AMEN on the jazz bullying. One of my best friends, +Kyle Johnson, such a young great trombone player, was one of my greatest influences in healthy competition. Always complementary when credit was due, & always filled with healthy constructive criticism and guidance is what allowed me to have such confidence and conviction in going for ideas in my playing. I think because of his humility is in direct proportion with why he recently made the Jazz Ambassadors in the Army. Time...time...time, just like in playing...groove (be consistent) with time and time will take care of you. Bob! Great VLOG!

[@MrBoybergs]

Jazz bullying.....I'm 54 now but I remember so well going to my first open mike night in a London Jazz bar (I was 17 and had been practicing hard for a couple of years. So I took 3 choruses on a standard 12 bar blues and thought I did pretty good. At the end of the evening, the pianist walked over to me, looked me in the eye and said "I don't want to see you here again for a long, long time" he then turned his back on me and sauntered off. I put my sax in its case when I got home that night and didn't take it out again for over a month. I felt destroyed and completely demotivated. Over 30 years on and I make a point of never criticizing aspiring musicians; sure I may offer gentle, constructive advice but with the aim of encouraging them and steering them in the right direction. It's easy to forget how daunting and scary it can be for a relative newbie to expose his abilities to other musicians and therefore how much damage can be done through that arrogant superiority thing that (mercifully)a small number of advanced musicians think they've earned the right to flaunt. There....I feel much better now! :)

[@rainerjames1421]

Maybe the reason why he doesn’t want to see you again is because you did really great and he envy you ! Ahahaha! Thanks for the comment, spread the positive vibes!

[@jeffrey3498]

I think of the Beatles and the Beach Boys. Pet Sounds came out and it lit a fire under the Beatles and we got Sgt Peppers. I don't believe destruction was the motivation, but a deep appreciation for Brian Wilson's genius that inspired and motivated. This is all good, and the music fans were rewarded.

[@davidharrismusician]

I really really enjoyed this one, Bob! Your response to that long question was perfect.

[@MisterstereoOso]

Wise words as ever, you are making a huge contribution Mr.Reynolds !!

[@DonBrownDrums]

Man that's a wild situation , I play drums and sax myself. I actually played with you at the springs once Kyle Crane hooked that up . But not to long ago I was playing soccer and I'm new to soccer and I'm rapidly improving , but there are just certain people there on that field that get too competitive and kill the sport sometimes . I hope that the person who has this problem , can pull through and do it for the love cause Karma will get the guys who don't do it for the music ! Also digging the videos ,they're helping my a lot with my expression on sax as well as drums !

[@justinberkley2403]

seriously...who disliked this? who thumbs downs an anti-bullying message?!?

[@YoussefFawzi]

Justin Berkley probably the bullies who want to "destroy" the kid

[@bungNik]

HI There Bob !! hi from Jakarta , Indonesia...i'm also a musician..really love the money management episode. Good Luck with everything that you do !!

[@DeanWuksta]

enjoying the vlogs, drummers are good at sharing fills and grooves to inspire each other, as u get older, its the more subtle things that impress me, like touch and finesse. Vinnie is the man, I met him briefly once at a Bill Evans gig, Dean Brown on guitar, was cool to finally meet my hero.

[@david-zahniser]

That competition to me was funny yet terrifying, the ignorance of saying, "I will destroy you" is funny because you wonder if they think at all when they speak but it makes you scared for what their future holds if they don't. I have two questions, one that is a dumb gear related question which you can skip and one that can actually be helpful. 1. Have you ever used the pro-line of Rico (D'addario) reeds like the Reserve and the Select Jazz, and if so what is the difference between them and the Rico Royals/Orange Box? 2. What is the most effective way to learn a scale in your opinion, straight up and down, improvising with it, playing the modes etc.? Love the vlogs!

[@xasma]

Great topic. I see it happening all the time

[@HiltsyAdventure]

I used to destroy all the other tenor players in my HS band.... oh wait I was the only one lol

[@pie213]

I used to destroy all the other vibes players in my school.... still am the only one :'(

[@jonahwalt]

I completely understand the jazz bullying. After going to my All-State band, many people were just trying to one up each other and i felt like i was being attacked a bit

[@YoungWilliamO]

I love all forms of jazz and love playing it. Finding fresh "jazz" music that clicks with you is more exhilarating than any other music, for me at least. With that said, the jazz world is hyper pretentious at all levels, which is funny because very few people listen to it or care about it these days. It was once America's popular music. It isn't now. There are many reasons for that, but I think the critics and the weirdly competitive people at the lower and mid levels of the jazz music world killed it for most folks. Why listen to overly complicated and sometimes aggravating music, played by people who think you are less-than for not having their musical knowledge or capabilities, when you can crack a cold beer and listen to CCR, Al Green, or Hootie and the Blowfish and be happy? Let the jazz bullies do their thing, and keep hustling and do yours. Kenny G did/does his own thing, and he laughs all the way to the bank.

[@hemanthkamana1886]

All the high schoolers who are actually burning don’t act like that. If I were to take a guess those guys are probably awful. lol

[@carterpochynok4874]

This is exactly why I don't go to jazz jams anymore: people who chomp at the bit to "vibe" anyone with a different musical background trying to dip their toes into jazz.

[@aidandoylepolitics]

I KNEW he was going to bring up chris potter when he was talking about destroying players

[@Alanoffer]

The competition amongst jazz guys in the old days was called the killing floor ,nothing has changed

[@IndraAziz]

Your videos are not just good in content, but also good quality picture and audio. could you please kindly share your gear setup for these vlogs, would appreciate it very much. Thanks!

[@bobreynolds]

Thanks! iPhone 6 and Canon 60D. Attention to detail in editing...iMovie, btw. ;)

[@IndraAziz]

Thanks!

[@JulianFernandez]

Destroy. Hahaha. Good one.

[@taigasugimoto632]

it scared me when the snare hit, that was loud

[@HenrySaxVeras]

I need that blue shirt lol

[@PabloVestory]

Yeah and movies like Whiplash are not doing any favour to this question. One thing is to sacrifice and discipline yourself with a goal of get better at music or whatever, and another very different is to convert jazz education in Olympic Games or gladiators colosseum

[@ChopinDolphy]

I can't say I've experienced direct jazz bullying but I've definitely experienced the more subtle form of jazz bullying known as "the vibe"

[@bobreynolds]

Ah yes, "the vibe." Been on the receiving end of that many times. No fun but probably not going anywhere anytime soon.

[@ChopinDolphy]

Yeah it's crazy how deeply rooted vibing is in jazz culture. Have you ever played at a Wally's jam session before?

[@bobreynolds]

Ha! Wally's was the EXACT venue I was remembering in my reply. ;)

[@ChopinDolphy]

Hahahaha well I guess Berklee hasn't changed much then

[@prismavidamusic7226]

LOL How about making music for its true purpose? Creativity has nothing to do with competition. I don't think you're competing Bob, you're just digging, creating supporting and helping bring each other out as best as possible when you play together. Competing implies working against someone and yeah obviously being destructive (disharmonious!). Creation implies constructiveness. Creating... (harmony!).

[@TheJokerSax]

Hey Mr.Bob

[@TheLedZepBass]

that bass player in the clip you showed. is that kaveh restegar? only know him from kneebody. great guy.

[@bobreynolds]

Yep, it's Kaveh.

[@giomendez1145]

Hey Bob! What neckstrap are you using? I realized it wasn't your regualar Dejacques. Ive been looking for a neckstrap with a slimmer profile but the Dejacques is way too expensive for what it is.

[@noirprncess]

Do you use circular breathing to hold one note (you were working on note G)?

[@jimmylh]

How do you get your paying gigs? Word of mouth, advertised auditions, agent/manager?

[@bobreynolds]

+jimmylh word of mouth

[@vincescuderi]

It's good to appreciate other players' ability, but, clobbering fellow players is, to me, antithetical to Music. Everyone is on their own path toward the best they can be. Beating each other up serves no purpose. I know top pros who tell me they really enjoy listening to their peers solo. That's what it should be. Learn from each other. Yeah playing six notes for every four the other guy plays may massage your ego, but, what about the great players who say volumes with two notes, compared to some who blather on with a million notes. Compete against your self. You'll go farther.

[@barentfoley101]

Nice

[@PeterJClimie]

Took for ever but I stumbled on the t-shirt. You can get it here: www.sunfrog.com/SAXOPHONIST-LMT.html