[Dixielandjazz] more on "the decline"

[James Kashishian]

John Farrell wrote:

> I'm with Bill Gunter on this - no matter which way you slice it the
>Dixieland genre does not have the mass appeal enjoyed by pop music. 

This is the same silly subject that is brought up in every single radio,
tv, or press interview the band has ever had.  I like jazz in a small
joint, and there is always a small, discrete, really crazy crowd that
follows good jazz.  The masses don't follow it.  It just doesn't feel
like a "masses" thing to me.  Maybe that's why it just keeps on going &
going & going.  Always there, always will be....  You know yourselves,
if you're one of the "hooked", be it a player or a listener, it's not
something you can just do without.  The demand is inside.

Somewhere along the line, folks thought they needed to "understand" jazz
to enjoy it.  I always tell 'em, when I hear this comment, "I'm the one
that has to understand it, all YOU have to do is enjoy it.  That parts
easy, the beat will get you all by itself".

Jim