[Dixielandjazz] Re: Grammy Awards and OKOM

[Nancy Giffin]

From: Dan Augustine <ds.augustine at mail.utexas.edu>
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Re: Grammy Awards and OKOM

     I guess you're right. We don't deserve notice. We better die
right now, save the audiences the messy job of killing us themselves
by staying away. There's no point in playing this stuff anyway,
because nobody loves us or the music and never will.  I guess i
really don't like it either, don't know why i bother playing it and
listening to it and reading about it.  Just something to do that
doesn't really matter. The audiences are really putting us on to
laugh at us when they show up and pretend to have a good time.
There's no point to it, it's useless, just as life is.  Hand me that
knife, there, would you?

     Dan

Dear Dan and others who feel this way:
     I can understand your reaction to Steve's post, which is rather harsh
at first glance. Also, it must be frustrating to see people my age and
younger failing to appreciate this wonderfully-inspired art form. Why should
OKOM be modernized, in any way, to compete with (c)rap and rock 'n roll?
     As someone who grew up listening to the Beatles and Talking Heads, I
can take a second glance at Steve's words and see the fire he's trying to
light under you; see the point he's making:
     You cannot expect the horse to drink if you haven't led it to the
water. You cannot lead it to the water unless you dangle a somewhat familiar
and palatable carrot in front of it.
     Sure, you could be at the heart of a fountainhead, gleefully splashing
away, wondering why the stupid horse across the dry creek bed is still
searching to quench its thirst, settling for cowpies. Or, you could be
willing to move outside the spring, just far enough to get the horse's
attention and call it over. Or, you could even go so far as to take a
sampling all the way over to where the horse is, and lead it back from
there.
     "Aw, horsepucky," you say; but, have you tried to do what Steve has
done (slightly modernize) and enjoyed the success of it? He may be
compromising, but he's also appealing to new audiences and introducing them
to this music. This invites the possibility that "newbies" might explore
the music further and discover its origin -- maybe even buy Armstrong CDs!
Hey, it could happen!!! In fact, it happened to me, so I know it's possible.
     We're all family here, folks. We love this music, even if we do get
annoyed with each other from time to time. Keep talking. It's all good.
     Love and hugs,
     Nancykins