[Dixielandjazz] Preservation Hall JB

[Trumpetom at aol.com]

I'm not sure if all of us see that group in the same light. Several years 
back, I saw their road band at two concerts in two different years. I won't say 
where or when I saw them: a delightful old left handed banjo player named 
Narvin(the only band member I'd care to name), a bebop piano player using different 
chords than the others, a 4-beat string bass player, an excellent all-around 
trumpet player, a local tailgate trombone player (played like Kid Ory), a 
fantastic old trad. Creole drummer, plus an uninspired clarinet player. The 
material was not well rehearsed, & there were "solo" choruses where nobody chose to 
play a solo, a couple messed-up endings....the beat went on anyway. Nobody in 
the band seemed to be in charge of things. It didn't seem like they were 
having any fun. They were all real polite and patient when audience members visited 
with them afterwards. They sold a ton of C. Ds.

Several styles were being played at the same time on the same tune. Their 
product irritated me. However the audience liked them. Go figure! My opinion 
only. Please do not get mad at me for having an opinion. I'm not the greatest 
player in world. They certainly get paid more for playing than I get for playing. 
Maybe they have improved since then.

Tom Loeb
California