On Wed, Nov 23, 2011 at 5:05 PM, David Bruggeman <[email protected]> wrote: > While I can certainly see ?uesto and his bandmates eventually tiring of the > constraints of a late night program. However, I think there are a few > things that suggest the band will be around longer than Marsalis' three > years. (FWIW, Fallon's late night program marks three years in a little > over three months) > Marsalis notably considered the role (or working with Leno, or both) as > being an "ass-kisser." If anything, it seems Fallon considers having The > Roots as a boost to what there is of his credibility. It's still pretty > common to hear a guest compliment the band and Fallon chime in. Whether > that qualifies as the reverse of Marsalis' concern, or additional evidence > of Fallon's total music fanboy tendencies depends on where you sit. > > The Roots will soon release another album, which makes at least two they've > put out while working on Fallon's show. They have also toured during breaks > and have done shows on the weekends. A check of Marsalis' discography notes > a couple of album releases, but no sense of whether he could have toured. > That would provide an opportunity for channeling mischief somewhere besides > 8 second mockery. > Arguably the band is integrated into the show on a level comparable to the > Max Weinberg 7/Basic Cable Band. Besides "Slow Jam the News" there have > been many other recurring and one-off bits with a musical element that's not > just providing theme music (of which they do a lot). > While they may eventually feel stifled, boredom is probably a longer way > off.
Being on a talk show is a great job for a musician. S/he can settle down in the city where the show is taped, raise a family, and collect a regular paycheck. Plus the gig is very high profile and when the band tours fans of the show provide a strong ticket buying base. Work for the show is one hour on air and probably another hour for rehearsal. Plus the pay goes up from year to year or contract to contract, just as seniority works in any field. The rule is for musicians to stay on as long as they can and those who leave have to be considered outliers. I don't know the exact reason Branford Marsalis left the Tonight Show. I bought a couple of his albums in the eighties and I would describe them as experimental or esoteric jazz. My guess is that he was willing to take the pay and job security cut to go back to that music and possibly relocate to New Orleans. I remember the ass-kisser remark, but I don't think that Branford really made that big a move for so petty a reason. -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en
