JAM: August/September 2006 Issue: Feature Story

Play Out

“Play out. Play out,” I thought I heard the bassist say, which means play louder, make yourself heard, articulate each rhythmic, melodic phrase more distinctly.

I said nothing. I raised my stick heights. I concentrated on articulation. I wanted each drum stroke to be precise like a star dot in the night sky, alone and flickering with energy, each a single bright white point.

Eight measures later, he cups his hand across the neck of the bass like a clamp, asking the instrument to quiet itself. I hear him clearly now, “Lay out. Lay out!”

I stop, my hands holding the sticks against my legs. He starts again, catching the pianist's eye, driving the tune onwards to its close.

I sit in the dark listening. They have gone on without me. I wonder if I will help finish the tune or if I will be asked to step down, returning into the darkness of the tables and the listeners, an audience member again, or if I will get another chance on a different tune.

Kevin Rabas , before moving recently to Emporia , performed with the Wild Women of KC, Bryan Hicks, and the Kevin Cloud Trio. He now performs with Lisa Moritz and The Petroglyphs. He teaches creative writing and literature at Emporia State University . The anecdotal story above comes from sitting in at a jam at Jardine's about 10 years ago.






	Search our site:		Play Out “Play out. Play out,” I thought I heard the bassist say, which means play louder, make yourself heard, articulate each rhythmic, melodic phrase more distinctly. I said nothing. I raised my stick heights. I concentrated on articulation. I wanted each drum stroke to be precise like a star dot in the night sky, alone and flickering with energy, each a single bright white point. Eight measures later, he cups his hand across the neck of the bass like a clamp, asking the instrument to quiet itself. I hear him clearly now, “Lay out. Lay out!” I stop, my hands holding the sticks against my legs. He starts again, catching the pianist's eye, driving the tune onwards to its close. I sit in the dark listening. They have gone on without me. I wonder if I will help finish the tune or if I will be asked to step down, returning into the darkness of the tables and the listeners, an audience member again, or if I will get another chance on a different tune. Kevin Rabas , before moving recently to Emporia , performed with the Wild Women of KC, Bryan Hicks, and the Kevin Cloud Trio. He now performs with Lisa Moritz and The Petroglyphs. He teaches creative writing and literature at Emporia State University . The anecdotal story above comes from sitting in at a jam at Jardine's about 10 years ago. RETURN TO AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 MAIN INDEX © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2006. All rights reserved.