[Dixielandjazz] Pres. Hall's Stories

[john petters]

Tom said
> > I have personally seen many of these old folks trotted out to the
festival
> > circuit as Legends
> > and the audiences who never saw or heard them in their pitiful youth
forgive their arthritis and lack of skills in performing, merely attributing
it to their glorified status as Legends in the media to sell tickets.  When
in all  actuality they never were very good.
> >
 to which Jim said
>    This is so true, Tom Wiggins, that I had to repeat it.  You had
> better hope that Wynton Marsalis does not get wind of this.
>
I think there is a lot of truth in this. I could cite Kid Thomas and De De
Peirece as examples of never weres. There is a holy grail that holds that if
it comes from New Orleans its got to be good. That may have been true in
days gone by, but I hear very little recorded evidence thast it is the case
today. I would say that most of the great players made it in Chicago in the
20s. Aruably the best and most competant revival band was Ory's. Although I
love the Geoge Lewis Climax sessions and some of the Bunk's, I manly listen
to the latter because Baby Dodds is so well recorded and is in fact the only
player of real genius in the band. I would sooner hear the Mutt Carey New
Yorkers with Albert Nicholas or Ed Hall instead of Lewis, Danny Barker in
preference to Marrero etc. Capn' John Handy was a monster player but for the
most part he played with also rans. Pity he didn't play with the New Yorkers
rhythm section.
Sorry,  but great New Orleans jazz for me means the Morton's Oliver's
Armstrong's Wanderer's, Tuxedo, Astoria Hot 8, Piron, Bechet /Ladnier in 32,
Johnny Dodds Blackbottom Stompers,  Doc Cook's Small Groups, Ory's Sunshine
Band - and don't forget the ODJB and NORK.
Of the revival bands I would take in addition to those mentioned above,
Celestin's band with Picou and Black Happy (a much under rated drummer) and
the Wooden Joe's. Much of the rest I can do without and that includes what I
have heard of the Preservation Hall band.
John Petters
Amateur Radio Station G3YPZ
www.traditional-jazz.com