Hard, Very Difficult and Ridiculous

The Jackie Gleason Show (1960's) was memorable for many artistic reasons. Jackie's characterization of Ralph Kramden along with Art Carney's portrayal of Ed Norton are some of Television's all time comedy classics.

Jackie Gleason's "Variety Show" always started off with about seven minutes or so of unbelievably difficult music featuring the "June Taylor" dancers backed by a superb orchestra conducted by Sammy Spear. Even with these very proficient musicians it always took the players to their professional limits week after week.

At the show's inception, Gleason insisted on having it produced in Florida and not New York or Los Angeles as he loved the warm weather and most importantly he was a golf enthusiast.  

The opening number was an extravagant feature that showcased the chorus line called  "The June Taylor Dancers".   The choreography was ingenious and exhibited a display of Broadway-type dancing complete with over-head camera shots. The hard-driving swing music was played at break-neck speed and the whole package was a classic display of show business glitter.

Gleason encouraged this trademark display of excess as it suited his personality and showcased his considerable talents. The overture was so difficult that it required two outstanding lead trumpet players to play the extremely demanding music.  

Gleason's show was always over the top in both comedy and music.  Week after week the viewing audiences were treated to "The Great One's" creative genius. To this day these shows are considered masterpieces and a great example of that golden era of television's "variety" shows.

We have other examples of compositions that were so over the top (over written) that the best musicians available could hardly get through the music. Stan Kenton's album with a composition called "City of Glass" written by Robert Graettinger is just such an example of music taken to the extreme.    Buddy Childers (outstanding lead trumpet) on this album admits that the Kenton band could never play this music in public. It was just too risky and difficult. The recording was the only time they played that piece.

Some time ago a friend of mine had the occasion to back up Buddy Greco an outstanding singer / musician.   Buddy's charts were well written and he was what we call a "swinger" in the Frank Sinatra style.

On the afternoon of the rehearsal Buddy pulled out a chart for the band to play that was his "Show Overture."   Well it was also one of these charts that you would consider challenging.   It was so difficult that the band soon disintegrated one by one at various places in the arrangement never getting beyond more than a page and a half.  

Finally after the band ground to a screeching halt, Buddy said,  " Okay guys. Hand in that chart.  I have never used that arrangement.  I just liked to break the ice and see what you guys could do with it.  No band that has backed me up anywhere I've performed could play this music."  Needless to say the musicians had a chuckle over this good-natured "stunt" and were glad that that they didn't have to struggle with this music any longer.   They all breathed a sigh of relief.

At the bottom of the first trumpet part were several autographs of renowned trumpet players and how far they made it in the chart. It was interesting that these great musicians admitted to the difficulty if not impossibility of the music. As to these arrangers that throw everything into the chart but the kitchen sink it begs the question, "Why not keep it simple stupid."  (Appropriate acronym K. I. S.S.)

In another incident an annoyed musician turned to the arranger and asked, "By the way did you edit this chart?. I've looked over the four pages of the arrangement and found two quarter note rests.   Are you sure you want them left as is?"

Web space donated by Encore...The Concert Band www.encoretheconcertband.ca