[Dixielandjazz] Venuti and Grappelli (was history of Jazz)

[Jim Denham]

Joe Venuti "emulated" Stephan Grappelli??!!

Aux contrare, mon ami!

Venuti was an established professional, recording musician many years 
before Grappelli made his first records, and the charming Frenchman 
himself was not averse to acknowledging Venuti as his major influence.

It's a good job that Four String Joe isn't around to hear your travesty 
of history: who knows what fiendish revenge he'd meticulously plan...

Venuti and Grappelli made a record together in the late 60's with George 
Wein, shortly before Joe's death. It's an instructive contrast: one is 
an assured, pleasant, swinging but rather effete player; the other is a 
red-hot no-hold-barred improviser.

I have no wish to add to anti-French sentiment in the present climate. 
But the truth must be told.

Yours,

Jim Denham.


In message <000b01c2d211$08559a60$a01b13d8 at commspeed.net>, gary 
<garwall at commspeed.net> writes
>Listmates,
>   Now that we have pretty much beaten the daylights out of washboards,
>plungers and bad jokes I thought I would tell you about a reference book I
>bought back in '52 and just recently began to reread.
>   It is; "A history of Jazz in America" by Barry Ulanov, Viking Press,
>copyright '50, '51, & '52. Also published by the Macmillan Co. of Canada. As
>of the date of my copy there was no library #.
>   This book consists of  382 pages that tell you more than anything you
>ever wanted to know about Jazz from pre-New Orleans up to and including
>modern and progressive.
>   It also includes a 5 page, fine print glossary of Jazz terms for those
>who don't speak or understand the language.
>   Unlike Mr. Feather, Mr. Ulanov (pardon the pun) does not have an axe to
>grind, but because it is a reference book it is not an easy read.
>   Since it is so old you might find it in your LARGE library or maybe even
>on the net but whatever it can answer many of the questions that have and
>will be answered on this site.
>   Recently it was stated that Django Reinhardt was the only Non American
>who had a great influnce on early Jazz, not quite.
>   There was one other muso who played with Django that was just as
>influential, Stephen Grappelly who it is no secret that Joe Venuti emulated.
>   It has been said that Charlie Christian was the first jazz guitarist to
>perform the the riffs he did. Not so. In many cases he copied Django note
>for note and it is no secret that he idolized Django's music.
>   I am sure there are many more non American Jazz musicians who have
>contributed much to Jazz, traditional or otherwise but as Ulanov pointed
>out, there have been way too many, like Buddy Bolden, reached their peak and
>flickered out like a candle. Jazz is not static. It is always changing.
>Critics have been saying since the early '20s that jazz was dying. 'Tain't
>so Buddy, 'taint so.
>   I have bored you enough so all of you, have a great day.
>   Gary Wallbridge
>   Cottonwood, AZ
>
>
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-- 
Jim Denham