Klarinet Archive - Posting 000098.txt from 1995/01

From: "Michael A. Cassara" <MikeC414@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Jazz/not jazz
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 1995 15:03:42 -0500

Lee,
You bring up an interesting point. I think Stoltzman is capable of swinging,
but like Kenny G. is exploring his creativity. On one of his "jazz" albums
(New York Counterpoint) he played Gordon Jenkins Goodbye which was Benny
Goodman's closing theme. He played it very spiritually in tribute of Benny.
He ended with a cadenza of BG tunes (Memories of You, Sing, Sing, Sing, and
others) all mixed together. After listening to the rest of the album I was
happy to find this one (more traditional) jazz tune. He had a good
arrangement and Bill Douglas played grand piano so it wasn't as electric.
I do agree with you on the fact that he's no Eddie Daniels, I do think if he
dedicated himself to more traditional jazz he would be a top player. But
I've said it before and I'll say it again, if nobobdy ever explored other
ways to play music we would be awfully sad today. Think about what would
happen if Charlie Parker decided to become a construction worker. Would we
have bebop? Would bebop make rock and roll?