[TPIN] How to be a lead player

[John Kool]

This partially answers my question.
Which I can now extend:

Does the leader do all the leading from the horn or does he tell  
others in the section how to play?

You are telling me both.

I guess the key is "constructive" criticism, eh.  And the attitude of  
the rest of the section.

On Mar 1, 2008, at 10:37 AM, Byron Jones wrote:

> As a lead player (sometimes) and a section player (most of the  
> time), when I play jazz in a big band section, two qualities come to  
> my mind. Does the lead player play phrases consistently, or does he  
> (or she) play them differently each time. That would be hard to  
> follow, and would be a bad trait, in my opinion.
> Also, does the lead player listen to the other section mates and  
> offer criticisms during the rehearsals to players who aren't  
> following, or are consistently making the same mistakes over and over.
> It is not only the talent of the lead player and his (or her)  
> ability to swing and play stylistically, but the ability to listen  
> to the section and point out constructive ways for the section to  
> "tighten-up".
> After this fine tuning, if you have the luxury of rehearsal, then  
> the lead player can expect the whole section to swing, and play the  
> style, etc.
> Some times, the lead player needs to add to the criticism of the  
> entire band's rehearsal points by bringing up things that the  
> rehearsal director misses.
> So that "ear" and art of listening is crucial.
> Byron