THE EYES HAVE IT
Shut your eyes and see.
James Joyce
De’Sean Jones was the first of of three saxophone players leading bands at the Dirty Dog this March. He will be followed by Alex Graham and Dave McMurray. This is a photographer’s dream. Horn players are camera magnets.
Our eyes generally gravitate to the guy swinging his curvy brassy instrument up and down and back and forth while the rest of the guys and gals in the band are caught in a static state of awe. Saxophone players have a fierceness in their eyes that calls for a closeup of their faces. The same face drifts into a dreamy far off look when its owner picks up a flute.
Most of us express our feelings with our eyes. Musicians usually don’t give us the same clues with their eyes which are shut most of the time. I have become an expert on jazz artists’ facial expressions from over shooting and from the consequential hours of editing. Digital photography has slowly dissipated all of my in-camera editing skills.
WE CAN LEARN FROM ARTISTS’ EYES.
Usually we can tell when jazz artists are really getting along. These are people who habitually enjoy their work. They are at ease with letting their joy show and since other parts are occupied they use their eyes to communicate their willingness to cooperate.
Guitarists seem always to be lost in the beauty of their new guitars, while piano players spend half their time looking over the piano for clues from other players and the other half staring down the keyboard during their solos.
Some drummers and bass players’ eyes are hard to photograph as their heads are always moving. Most concentrate so hard that that they lock onto something unseen by anyone else until the tune is over. They often can be seen synchronizing their head movements to keep the band on beat.
JAZZ MUSICIANS EYES SHARE THEIR JOY WITH US
MEANWHILE, THE DIRTY DOG STAFF WILL BE COMMUNICATING WITH THEIR EYES
The house asks us to respect the music by keeping our conversations to a minimum, the staff have learned to communicate with their eyes.
When you visit the Dirty Dog, or any first class establishment, you will have eyes on you. Eyes that will be looking out for your best interests.
The only job of the first person that you will meet at the Dirty Dog is to greet you and walk you to your table. Your journey will be followed by the watchful eyes of the staff, who for the rest of the evening will have their eyes wide open looking for the best ways to serve you.
Many visiting the Dirty Dog seem to acquire a joyous glint in their eyes, which they share with the greeter as they leave.
John Osler
COMING THIS WEEK TO THE DIRTY DOG JAZZ CAFÉ
MARCH 14 – MARCH 17
ALEX GRAHAM
One thing you can count on is that when someone does something well they will look you square in the eye. Acclaimed saxophonist Alex Graham has earned this right.
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