[Dixielandjazz] Al Hirt, Bob Havens, and Eternity

[Bryan Livett]

Hey Jim I think we must be musical twins, separated at birth....a typical
set by my band, Swing Machine, might include Basin St. Blues, Emily (in
3/4), Doxy, Curse of an Aching Heart, St. Thomas, Night and Day, Bourbon St.
Parade, All the Things You Are and Walking Shoes and tends to reflect our
listening tastes as a group of musicians;  if we like the tune, we play it!
Our audiences like the variety, and reflect the broad scope of the music
demographically from younger to older, dancers and listeners, families and
individuals.  Visiting musicians also like it and our sessions are often
graced with good jazz players who just like to sit in with our versatile
rhythm section.

Pigeon-holes are for pigeons!

Bryan

----- Original Message -----
From: "James Kashishian" <kash at ran.es>
To: <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2003 4:02 AM
Subject: RE: [Dixielandjazz] Al Hirt, Bob Havens, and Eternity


>
> Dan Augustine wrote:
> >I like ol' Al Hirt and Bob Havens and Harold Cooper, the (Assunto)
> Dukes of
> >Dixieland, the Firehouse Five Plus Two, and even Kenny
> Ball...............
>
> in a plea to let each enjoy what he enjoys.  Yesterday, Steve Barbone
> said something like "we know Kash likes modern stuff".  Actually, our
> band, being made up of 5 individuals, has managed to stay together for
> 35 years just because there are no laws laid down as far as style or
> choice of tune.  We try something 'cause someone in the band wanted to.
> It works or it doesn't work. Not much thought is given to the
> whereabouts of the tune, purely jazz or not purely jazz.
>
> My listening habits are the same.  If it works for the moment, I leave
> it on.  I have, over my almost 50 yr Dixieland habit, listened to
> practically every one of the old masters, and lots of newer masters.  I
> have the album Dan mentioned:  Hirt's first LP for Audio Fidelity (AFLP
> 1877, from 1958) called "Al Hirt Swingin' Dixie in my collection!  It's
> always been one of my favourite....'specially the absolutely wild
> "Saints" cut!  Another favourite is Wally Rose playing ragtime with
> Turk's Band.  Two wild extremes? Yeah, but I have wild extreme moments.
>
> We can belt out a trad version of Muscrat Ramble or Doctor Jazz with
> stride piano that will satisfy the most pure of the purists.  And, we
> can play a modern (?) tune like It's Only a Paper Moon with great stress
> on light swing.  Gives a nice variety for dancers, listeners & the band.
>
>
> I don't get the pigeon hole idea of music.  Does the band enjoy playing
> it?  Does your audience enjoy listening to it?  Do you continue to get
> hired?  Does the audience keep coming back?  THOSE are important
> subjects!
>
> Jim
>
>
>
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