[Dixielandjazz] Re: Faster and higher than Louis

[JimDBB at aol.com]

In a message dated 7/14/2003 10:09:05 AM Central Standard Time, 
barbonestreet at earthlink.net writes:

> It should be no surprise to us that every trumpeter in Jazz today plays 
> better than Louis. Faster, cleaner, higher,
> more ideas. We might as well get used to it. The point, of course is that 
> Louis innovated Jazz in the beginning. He is
> THE FATHER. But you can bet the farm that he is proud of his sons who 
> surpass him.

   I find it hard to believe that someone purporting to love jazz and to be a 
jazz musician actually made this statement.  I wonder why it is that as I 
wind my path down I am throwing out all of my recordings' except Louis 
Armstrongs.  All of the guys who can play faster and higher than Louis went first.

What is in Louis's great recordings...Heart and soul.  Something that is 
totally missing in the 'higher and faster' recordings.  

I am rediscovering outstanding Armstrong recordings that I very much ignored. 
  For example, Louis singing, " That's for Me" with beautiful backup from 
Teagarden and Hines.

Jim Beebe