Klarinet Archive - Posting 000659.txt from 1999/11

From: "Franklin Kercher" <kranwli@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Jazz Mouthpieces
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 22:38:29 -0500

-----Original Message-----
From: ShawThings@-----.com>
Date: Tuesday, November 16, 1999 4:40 AM
Subject: Re: [kl] Re: Jazz Mouthpieces

>Is "Dixieland revival" actually happening?
>What a horrid prospect.
>Here's a bit of unsolicited, gratuitous info. I apologise in advance for
>wasting time and space, but I find the tendency of many otherwise
>well-educated musos to bundle older jazz styles together in the "trad" (or
>worse, "Dixieland") category as very uninformed and irritating.
>Most historically-aware musicians probably know that the original
"Dixieland"
>was the frenetic (and to modern listeners, insufferably corny) ensemble
style
>which gained phenomenal popularity when the first "jass" records made by
the
>ODJB (Original Dixieland Jazzband) in 1917 got into circulation.
>That style, which is almost pure vaudville with hardly any real "jazz"
>elements (improvisation, solos, harmonic adventuresness) seems to have
been
>developed by usually technically proficient Southern white players who
>copied, or perhaps parodied their negro/creole contemporaries, none of whom
>got to record until 1923, by which time the copying/parodying had gone the
>full circle.
>Even so, the best early black bands nearly always display more rhythmic,
and
>usually harmonic, sophistication than their copiers.
>No thanks to the ODJB (who inspired squillions of second-hand copyists) the
>"Dixieland" label seems to have stuck to all pre-swing era jazz (especially
>small group varieties) and its descendents, despite the vast diversity of
>styles which they encompass.
>I think the lisening population in general now associate the "Dixieland"
>description with middle-aged white players who dress in coloured
waistcoats,
>wear straw boaters and play pop tunes in a frenetic style directly
descended
>from the ODJB, using a rhythm sections which depend heavily on tuba and
>banjo. - Usually functional, but rarely aesthetic.
>Kenny Davern ( a fabulous technician and master of clever tonal and pitch
>inflections) doesn't play in that style any more than Bob Brookmeyer and
>Jimmie Guiffre do. Neither do Kenny Davern's most important inspirations
and
>precursors - If you (Craig) have been delighted by "just discoveing Kenny
>Davern" - get an earful of the 1926-35 recordings of Jimmie Noone
(1895-1944)
>and the young (pre-swing) 1929-34 Benny Goodman and you'll hear some REAL
>clarinet playing which has almost nothing to do with the modern conception
of
>"Dixieland" or "trad"!
>Tim Shaw
>What you listnin' to???? Ive heard some really good Dixie lately. Try out
Jim Cullom's jazz band from the riverwalk in San Antonio.
,,,,,,,,,,>-----------------------------------------------------------------
----
>Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
>Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
>Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
>Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org
>

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org