Once again, if you are not directly engaged in a ‘conversation’ with the musicians around you, you are NOT performing ‘music’; you are simply playing your instrument. If you think about it, even great solo instrumentalists like Tommy Emmanuel clearly demonstrate a certain conversational nature in their performances (you may be thinking of Victor). No doubt along they way you’ve heard some cover band just not getting it done-- everyone chugging away at their parts, but nothing happening; no communication, and likely no smiling faces on stage! Be it a weekend cover band or a world class jazz duo, when musicians converse it’s clearly obvious! If you sense it is not happening on ‘your’ bandstand, bring it up… It will make all the difference in the world!!