[Dixielandjazz] Bill Russo Obit / Things Go Better With Coke

[Goggin, Brian (Dublin)]

Not a turn off at all - while he plays more modern stuff, Wynton Marsalis
appreciates all Jazz right back to the beginning.
He did a good documentary on the history of Jazz trumpet with some good film
clips back in 1984.

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	whadayesay at webtv.net [SMTP:whadayesay at webtv.net]
> Sent:	Wednesday, January 15, 2003 10:52 PM
> To:	dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> Subject:	[Dixielandjazz] Bill Russo Obit / Things Go Better With Coke
> 
> Steve, 
>      Thanks for both articles on Bill Russo's death and the $10 million
> grant from Coke.
>       Bill was a driving force behind many good sounds that came from
> Kenton's Progressive Jazz era, and also a great performer and jazz
> musician of high calibre. He had a strong influence on broadening my
> eclectic tastes for the many facet's of jazz.
>        Seeing as this is a dixieland oriented list, there will be those
> that are turned off to writings including Wynton Marsalis's name. But,
> it's all in the name of Jazz. I'm happy to see Dizzy Gilespie being
> honored. He is such an important entity of jazz.
>        Most importantly, Coke-a-Cola should really be remembered for all
> the musical contributions they HAVE made over the years. How many
> remember "Coke Time" on radio which always featured music. It really was
> a part of Americana. And who, that ever heard it, can forget the theme
> music that identified any radio program that they sponsored. I'm talking
> basically of radio program's that originated here in the states. I'm not
> sure if that applied to the rest of the world. Although, there was a
> series of shows, sponsored by Coke, that also appeared on V-disc's
> during world war 2, and after. That was the Coke-a-Cola Victory Parade
> of Spotlight Bands, broadcast nightly from a different location with a
> different well known musical group. Big Bands etc. including Bob Wills.
> I think that without, maybe, Coke even realizing it, they were saying
> that any and all jazz is a universal oneness. All of it's different
> venue's have an appeal to many with assorted taste's.
>         The thought occurred to me, of comparing a public Library to all
> facet's of jazz. We go to a library to seek out a book on a certain
> subject that we might be interested in. Without thinking about it, we
> may not even acknowledge how lucky we are to have a place like this to
> go to and find books on our favorite subjects. We don't necessarily put
> down other subject matter of books that we're NOT interested in. But we
> do mingle with others going after books that they are interested in.
> Sometimes even talking with someone who just may introduce us to
> something we would have never even thought of investigating.
>         Well, is it not true that in this sense the sum total of all
> forms of jazz is somewhat to be compared with a public library? It's all
> there for our enjoyment, if we so choose. Also, wouldn't it also be OK,
> to NOT be negative, as a human being can be, about some forms of jazz
> NOT being good? It's all part of the cake. And new recipes of jazz as
> well as food, will continue to evolve. And every established form of
> jazz will have it's own rightful place in history, down through the
> years. I feel that jazz in total needs to be promoted and supported by
> all of us, regardless of our individual preference. "United we stand"
> etc. I love MUSIC!! Jazz, Classical, Country, Big Band, Rock, etc. That
> doesn't mean I like all of each field of music. But I am open to
> exploring. And that can be adventurous, and positive. 
> Thoughtfully,
> Paul ("Go For The Gusto") Reid
> 
> 
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