[Dixielandjazz] Take a breath, guys!

[Don Ingle]

Re: Future of dixieland jazz.
Sorry, but this thread has really run its course and it now is going in
circles. It's like playing a tune with circular breathing -- goes on and on
with no resolution because no one stops to take a breath.
All  of you have made your interesting points - some good ones, but they
have been made and are now just getting repetitive.
Whether there's a future for dixieland jazz or not, let's get on and play
while we're here. Tomorrow comes whether or not we want it to, so let's deal
with today and where we can hear it played now.
Don (It seems to me I've heard that thread before) Ingle

----- Original Message -----
From: "Charles Suhor" <csuhor at zebra.net>
To: <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 2:46 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] realistic future for Dixieland jazz


> I apologize if I overstated your negativism, Bill. Even looking at your
> message below, though, I think it's a much darker view than is reasonable
> to hold.
>
> Again I acknowledge that popularity on a par with the musical rage du jour
> won't likely happen. But with organized pressure, I can foresee Dixieland
> recordings becoming a part of the repertoire of jazz selections played on
> now all-modern jazz radio shows. I can see clubs hiring Dixieland groups
at
> decent salaries if good bands and smart promotion, aided by canny agents,
> keep on plugging. I can see schools acknowledging the value of collective
> improvisation a la Dixieland ensembles, for reasons of ear training,
> historical perspective, and cooperation/group cohesion. And so on.
>
> These are of course a judgment calls in a crystal ball, but I think
they're
> moderate goals that aren't wildly unrealistic. Who would have thought in
> 1947 that be-bop would become standard fare on PBS stations and as
> background music at classy restaurants? Our culture evolves in interesting
> ways, partly because some folks dare to make the improbable
> happen.--Charlie Suhor
>
>
> >Hi all,
> >
> >Charles Suhor writes:
> >
> >>  . . . I find
> >>only one view to be distressing--the genial defeatism of Bill Gunther
and a
> >>couple of others who say categorically that the music will die after we
do.
> >
> >
> >No no no no no!!!  I did not say that. And I'm not being a defeatist.
Please
> >re-read my postings.
> >
> >Two main points.
> >
> >1. Dixieland as an "art form to be preserved is heading for the museum."
> >
> >2. Dixieland as played by the thousand or so bands gigging around the
world
> >will continue as long as those guys want to keep on gigging. As long as
> >there are private parties to play at, parks, special events, fairs
(state,
> >county, whatever), and so on.
> >
> >My main thrust is that dixieland will never become the POPULAR MUSIC of
this
> >or any future generation unless some sort of miracle happens. And
miracles
> >don't happen all that often!
> >
> >Dixieland as played in jazz clubs and at trad jazz festivals will
continue
> >to diminish and ultimately fade away.
> >
> >Dixlieland as played by working bands of happy musicians will continue
> >forever.
> >
> >BUT -- I ain't no defeatist.  Probably more of a pragmatic realist.
> >
> >OK Charles??
> >
> >Cheers,
> >
> >Bill
> >jazzboard at hotmail.com
> >
> >ps - oh, and by the way, it's Gunter, not Gunther.
>
>
>
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