[Dixielandjazz] Re: Copy Cats - was Ted Lewis & Woody Herman

[Stephen Barbone]

> From: Jazzjerry at aol.com
> In a message dated 31/10/03 2:07:05 pm, barbonestreet at earthlink.net writes:
>
> > if I want to listen to "New Orleans"
> > clarinetists, I put on records by the sources, not the copycats. For me,
> > everything
> > he does has been done better by the likes of Albert Nicholas, Sidney Bechet
> > Alphonse
> > Picou, George Lewis, Albert Burbank and many others so why waste time
> > listening?
>
> Steve,
>
> I have always found this to be a particularly strange argument particularly
> from musicians. Taking the suggestion to a logical conclusion then one would
> never go a gig or buy a CD by any musician who is not seeking to find a new
> avenue for jazz to proceed. Your band plays loosely in the 'Chicago Dixieland
> style I would say from what I have heard so why should I bother to either turn
> out on a wet night to hear you or lash out my heard earned cash in buying your
> CD when I could stay at home in front of a roaring log fire listening to some
> Eddie Condon on the CD player?

Not quite, What I am saying is that I do not go intentionally to hear a band that copies earlier
bands. Examples are Glenn Miller Ghosts, ghost bands generally, and Woody Allen because he COPIES
and does not improve upon, or even try to improve upon what has already been done. That's my
opinion, and not necessarily applied to anybody else. And, since those he copies do it better, why
would I want to waste time hearing inferior music of the same genre?

However, I would go to hear "New Orleans" clarinetists like Orange Kellin, Evan Christopher or Tito
Martino and others. Why? Because I hear things they do better, or differently than Picou, Nicholas
et al. And they are not just copycats.

My CDs do not sound "like" any of Condon's Bands. None of the musicians I have on CD sound like, or
copy from those who went before. Indeed, among ourselves we call what we play "updated dixieland"
and the description of Condon style, or Chicago style is merely to indicate that we are solo
oriented, not playing from charts, and totally improvisation. We use, for example, a guitarist who
probably never heard Eddie Condon play to any great extent, if at all. Some like it, some don't.

There ain't nobody out there that we sound like. ;-) double negative pun.

> Tonight I am promoting a concert by an Australian singer called Trudy Kerr
> who is performing a concert of songs associated with Chet Baker. Her backing
> musicians include top flight musicians with Dick Pearce 'playing' the Baker
> trumpet and Alan Barnes doing his Mulligan thing on baritone. Should I tell
> the
> punters as they arrive that they should really be at home listening to the real
> Baker and Mulligan on record rather than paying their  A310 admission to hear
> copyists?

You are in business to make money so why would you tell anyone not to come? I would not attend, but
that is a personal opinion. The success of the many "Tribute" Bands worldwide, Elvis impersonators
et al indicates that there is a large viable market for copycats. If someone wants to make a living
that way, who am I to disapprove?

> Incidentally for the first time I can announce that some of the musicians
> playing tonight are strongly featured on a CD which has this week entered the
> main UK pop album charts at number 22! Bassist Geoff Gascoyne, drummer Sebas
> tiaande Krom and sax player Alan Barnes all are part of the support band behind
> Britain's latest singing sensation, piano/vocalist Jamie Cullum who has just
> released a new album which is destined for great things!
>
> Further interesting (or useless) information is that all the 'jazz' clarinet
> and saxophone playing on the soundtrack of the recent film, 'Cabaret' is by
> Alan Barnes
>
> Wow - who says the top jazz artists don't come to Norwich!!

That's great. I wish them and you much success.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone