[Dixielandjazz] "Mainstream"

[Stephen Barbone]

Perhaps "Mainstream", means whatever we (you) want it to mean? Love my
Webster's Collegiate Dictionary which says:

"Mainstream:"

1. The middle of a stream where the current is strongest. 2. The part of
something, considered to be the most active, lively, busy, etc. 3. A
major or prevailing trend, as of thought, action, literature, music,
etc. Now, up until this point it would seem that today, Kenny G. is at
the center of "mainstream" jazz. ;-) VBG.

HOWEVER note the final definition. 4. Jazz, a style of playing that
evolved in the 1950s, based on rhythmic and harmonic elements of swing,
modified slightly by those of bop.

That's pretty concise and just maybe not too far off the mark depending
upon how one defines "modified slightly". ;-)

Cheers,
Steve Barbone