[Dixielandjazz] Dixieland in Bismarck

[Charlie Hooks]

Thanks a bunch, Dan!  I'll definitely follow up on the info.
Farrell's idea seems sound but arduous; would rather join an established
group.  I have enough trouble trying to find the rhythm players even in
Chicago.  Playing drums and playing OKOM drums are not equal activities-- as
Petters will doubtless confirm.

But I'm far from moved yet, and it may never happen until my wife retires
(No Dak teachers' retirement sucks loudly!).  I love cold weather, but
Bismarck gets bad heat, too: it's 101 there today with high humidity.

My wife insists I inform you that she had already told me about the symphony
orchestras around the state.  Women have much better memories than men: they
remember every word ever spoken; they even remember words that never were
spoken, but I no longer point that out.

Appreciatively,
Charlie



on 8/8/02 8:46 AM, Dan Augustine at ds.augustine@mail.utexas.edu wrote:

> Charlie, John, and the rest--
> No problem.  I told you dixieland was everywhere. Go do a Google-search on
> 'Bismarck+Dixieland' (leave out the quotation-marks, and use a 'c' in the
> city-name).  You'll get a bunch of hits, including the following, from
> http://www.smchs.org/director.html:
> 
> "William J. Schmidt is the Director of Instrumental Music at St. Mary's
> Central High School Bismarck, North Dakota.  A graduate of Dickinson State
> University in Dickinson, North Dakota, he has taught at St. Mary's for 25
> years.  Mr. Schmidt directs the Wind Orchestra, Symphonic Band, "Marching
> Saints" and the award winning SMCHS Jazz Ensemble.
> 
> Mr. Schmidt has served as the Principal Trombonist with the Bismarck-Mandan
> Symphony Orchestra.  He presently conducts and performs with the Bill Schmidt
> Big Band and is the trombonist with Doc Lindelow's Dixieland Chamber
> Orchestra.
> 
> Schmidt is currently President of the North Dakota International Association
> of Jazz Educators and is the past president of the North Dakota National Band
> Association.  He is presently the Auditions Manager of the North Dakota
> All-State Band, Choir, Orchestra & Jazz Ensemble.  He is a member of the Music
> Educators National Conference, National Catholic Band Directors Association,
> International Association of Jazz Educators and the National Band
> Association."
> 
> The place sounds like a hotbed of jazz to me . . .
> 
> Dan
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> From: "John Farrell" <stridepiano@tesco.net>
>> Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Taking the week off...
>> Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 07:01:41 +0100
>> 
>> In one of his highly entertaining posts Charlie Hooks said :
>> " We've considered moving out to Bismark, No Dak.  State capital.  State
>> library is there.  Beautiful clean small city.  Computers don't care where
>> you live.  Bank says my house in Chicago (suburb) is worth $800,000.  I can
>> buy a much better house in Bismark for just under two grand.  (snip) But the
>> music is the Great Problem.  All country-western.  No OKOM.  No
>> classical players, let alone a symphony.  Forget the Opera.  Umm..."
>> <snip>
>> Apart from one awful outfit there were no OKOM bands locally. I tried to
>> live without it but the withdrawal symptoms became too painful to bear. The
>> only alternative was for me to start my own band - it took quite a while to
>> find 16 competent local musicians interested in playing MKOM but with
>> perseverance and luck I got there in the end. You should hear us now !!
>> Charlie - why don't you move to Bismark and do the same thing?
>> John Farrell