[Dixielandjazz] Re: Hope for the future2

Stephen Barbone barbonestreet@earthlink.net
Sun, 24 Nov 2002 20:54:05 -0500


Hi Tamas:

I think you are probably ahead overall, in Hungary. Very few OKOM bands in the
US enjoy the young audience that our band attracts. Most seem to think it
cannot be done and that our band is an aberration. Not so really. We average
70 years old in our six piece band but we love the kids (21 to 35) and it
shows. We seem to be able to talk to them musically as well as verbally,
rather than talking and playing at them and daring them to listen. Others
should be able to do it.

I think that maybe too many older bands (in age) do not know how, or do not
make the effort to talk to young people. They do not connect. And so, the
music doesn't connect either.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone

IttzÈs Tam·s wrote:

> I am very glad to see that, according to Steve Barbone's experience, I was
> mistaken when I wrote that maybe Hungary is the most promising country
> regarding the future generation of jazz fans. However, I hope that we'll be
> cathing up soon... :-)))
>
> Tamas
> ___________________________________________________________________
> Tamas ITTZES - violin teacher, ragtime pianist, manager
> Kodaly School, Bohem Ragtime Jazzband, Kecskemet Jazz Foundation
> Address: Kecskemet-Hetenyegyhaza H-6044, Hullam u. 14.
> Mailing address: Kecskemet H-6001, Pf. 652.
> Cellular phone: +36(20)960-7169, Tel.: +36(76)509-178, Tel./Fax:
> +36(76)472-438
> E-mails: bohem@mail.datanet.hu, bohemragtime@hotmail.com
> Website: http://www.bohemragtime.com/
> ___________________________________________________________________
> Original message by Steve Barbone:
> --------------
> Hear hear. It's the same with Barbone Street here in Philadelphia USA.
> Out of our yearly total of 160 gigs, we do more than 60 Dixieland gigs a
> year strictly for "young" audiences, (21 to 35 years old.). Including 2
> this month, for students at the University of Pennsylvania whose age
> range is 18 to 25 years old. Nothing better for the ego than having an
> under 30 year old come up to a 70 year old jazz muso and say "Man, you
> guys are awesome." Or being wildly cheered by 200 people under 30 at a
> club date.