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Things that jazz musicians are really afraid of

Halloween is once again upon us. Being from Australia and not celebrating this holiday as a youngster, I’ve found this to be a peculiar American tradition. Best I can tell, it’s some sort of ancient spiritual practice commemorating our departed loved ones and also marking the end of the harvest season, celebrated by the women dressing up as sexy nurses.

Even since moving to the US, and being a musician, I never paid particular interest to this holiday—on the basis that nobody hires a band for Halloween, so there ain’t no gigs. (I’ll take a Christmas party or a good Bar Mitzvah any day.)

Joplin

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November 2026

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