[Dixielandjazz] Re: Dixielandjazz Digest, Vol 7, Issue 70

[Stephen Barbone]

> Charlie Hooks wrote:
>
>     Young blacks don't like, don't relate to, therefore don't play OKOM.
> They regard older blacks who do as Uncle Toms, OKOM as pre-civil rights
> music, Ofay music.  And most of the older blacks who do play it are dying
> off.   That's the simple reason there aren't black OKOM bands.

Absolutely spot on IMO. "Dixieland" is happy, good time music that relates to our
visions of past. "The good old days" etc. But for most blacks, there are no good
old days. Thus no relationship to Dixieland and the memories it evokes in most of
us.

Though I am not sure young blacks regard older blacks who like Dixieland as
"Uncle Toms". I think that's pretty much over and that young blacks, like young
whites regard people who like Dixieland as "Old Farts", unable to cope with
modern times.

Want to change that perception? Update the music, put the sex and swing back into
it. You know, like it was when most of us fell in love with it.

Cheers,
Steve