FW: [Dixielandjazz] African-Americans in Jazz

[James Kashishian]

I haven't had much chance to verify or not verify the A-A contribution
on jazz as I've been in Madrid for 37 yrs, however, before that I did 8
yrs in the Air Force Bands.

In both of my AF bands, I was called upon to improvise on The Saints as
a closing song for many of the band's concerts.  In both bands, this
"solo" bit was frowned upon by the black guys in the bands.  They
commented to me (or behind my back) that this wasn't jazz.  (They also
may have been envious of the attention I was getting, and that I got
promotions ahead of time due to the exposure!!! )     :> 

Never mind the fact that I WAS AT LEAST IMPROVISING, when most of them
had only the ability to read.  Ok, some will argue that the ever-hated
Saints isn't Jazz, but I don't go along with that, and this bit of
exposure of jazz contributed to awareness amongst the public at our
concerts, and certainly drew applause, not to mention clapping to the
beat (on  2 & 4 in the States, and on 1 & 3 in Spain!!).

None of our other members of the bands ever took a stab at early jazz,
preferring to hit it right from the top...with Miles' style, or J.J.
Johnson as their mode of operation.  My comment...no background,
therefore no foundation for building the tall house they wished to
construct!

Now, in Europe, if you're black, they just assume you play jazz.  When
the Canal Street heard our AF Band at a Univ. concert, they came up and
asked the black trombonist if he played Jazz.  He turned them over to
me, and I joined them that very night....35 yrs ago!  

I've played with some of the old fellows...Ponty Pointdexter & Hal Smith
on sax, to mention a few, plus a white guy by the name of Tony Scott on
clarinet (louder than Louis on trumpet...honest!), and all these guys
could hit it on all our Dixie tunes.  They'd paid their dues, played the
older stuff, and decided to go into the more modern stuff.  Fine.  But,
pay your dues, first!

Jim