[Dixielandjazz] ODJB

[Stephen Barbone]

Yes, perhaps you are right. I'm "not aware of what is going on".

Really?  Is that a working band?  Where are they playing live?  Oh they are not?
No, they are not "playing" in that style, but rather "played" in that style for a
record date. Past tense, not present.

That was a pick-up group formed specifically to make a record. And I strongly
urge you to listen to those albums again and then listen to ODJB again, and then
tell me, with a straight face, that they are "copying" the style as a band and
will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. And please do not insult Jon
Erik Kellso by suggesting that that he plays in the style of the ODJB or Nick
LaRocca. He does one hell of a lot more than that on a routine basis. One hell of
a lot more.

These are "tribute" albums made for sale to pseudo knowledgeable fans who for
some reason think that a CD made by a modern band is as authentic as the subject
band, or really "artistic". And so musicians record copy cat crap to make a few
bucks from a few aging punters with more money to spend than brains.

For most listeners, what is the point listening to a CD with a contemporary
clarinetist playing the exact Larry Shields part in "Original Dixieland One
Step?" If we've got Larry doing it, what do we gain by hearing another
clarinetist, or 50 other clarinetists doing it again. . . and again. . . and
again?

Many on the DJML just advised Bill Biffle to listen to about 60 trumpet/cornet
players all doing their own thing. Were we wrong? Should we have told him to
listen to Nick LaRocca, and then 59 clones of Nick LaRocca playing his exact ODJB
parts? What would that accomplish except a 60th clone?

"Tributes" are a niche whereby musos release albums honoring ODJB, Louis, Muggsy,
Rosy, Wingy, Bunny, Bix, Benny, Woody, Artie, Basie, etc. Guaranteed to sell CDs.
Most are not copy catting, but paying homage. They are done to make a few bucks.
IMO that is a little different from regularly "playing in the style of" which is
what I was discussing. In effect, the central point, which seems to have escaped
you entirely.

Want to sell a CD to the blue hairs? Do a tribute. Sell nostalgia, not jazz.
There is always small audience for retro garbage. BUT, there is no live audience
for it as a viable live music form. Levinson and Kellso do not work live in that
form or in a band together steadily. And copy cat tributes do very little, if
anything, to advance the musical form. But as Kenny G might say, "It's a living."
So I don't knock it.

Note also that, unlike you,  I am neither downing the skill of the musicians nor
that of the bands. The pity of it all is that damn few fans around the world have
any idea of just how good the improvisational OKOM skill of Jon-Erik Kellso
really is. What Kellso CREATES today, friend Jerry, is equal to, or superior
than, that of most of the past "masters" upon whom the punters heap praise.

Jon- Erik is doing far more on an improvisational level these days than mundane
copy cat tribute music. He just came back to the USA from a couple of months of
touring in Europe where he played NO ODJB, in case you missed him there. His
album which I mentioned a week or so ago, (a homage to Louis) is typical of the
creative skill with which Kellso really plays. (With Ken Peplowski and Marty
Groz) I also posted his words about it. In effect that he was not copying or
playing in the style of Louis, "if anyone could" to quote his point exactly.

Have you listened to it? Do you sell many?

If not, maybe you are targeting the wrong audience. But hey, it's a living so
enjoy.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone


Jazzjerry at aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 16/11/03 22:08:18, barbonestreet at earthlink.net writes:
>
> << And to this day NOBODY plays in that style. It remains the
> only style of OKOM that NOBODY is copying today. >>
>
> This just shows that you are not aware of what is going on. An excellent band
> led by Dan Levinson with Jon-Erik Kellso is playing precisely in the style of
> the ODJB, Louisiana Five and other groups of the era and have released three
> CDs so far. And a damn good band it is with the playing on the albumss being a
> hell of a lot more lively and skillful that certain other bands I have heard
> on CD in the past year or so.