[Dixielandjazz] Re: Armstrong "imitators"

[Bill Haesler]

> 
> Hello all
> 
> "Imitation" is a broad topic and I think we may have drifted away from the
> point originally made by Bill Haesler - the awfulness of the singing of so
> many players when they try to emulate the style of Louis. Also, let's
> remember that impersonation is different to imitation. I gather that Elvis
> impersonation is a notifiable disease in the USA but I don't know of any
> attempts at Louis impersonation. Hardly surprising, seeing that most Louis
> wannabes are middle-aged to elderly Anglo-Europeans   :-)
> 
> Louis' style (both instrumental and vocal) has been fair game for imitators
> for almost 80 years and the imitation reflects both the admiration for, and
> economic sense of copying, a great artist.
> 
> When it comes to trumpet playing, many have done it well and some have done
> it very well - Jabbo Smith, Henry Allen and Jack Purvis come to mind. With
> the singing, though, it's a different matter - Louis had the gift of a
> distinctive voice and an impeccable rhythmic sense. Most imitators of the
> singing get only the voice (partly) right and miss-out completely on the
> rhythm. When Louis sang, the performance kept swinging; with the imitators
> it drags. Louis was indeed a great jazz singer, even though he wasn't the
> first.
> 
> He most certainly did play (and sing) "that thing".
> 
> All the best
> Anton
Hello Anton,
How can you be so provocative and not elicit one DJML reply in 3 days?
Your comment : >Louis was indeed a great jazz singer, even though he wasn't
the first.< must not go unchallenged.
If not Louis, who then did you have in mind?
I have a feeling that you are including the vaudeville/blues singers.
Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey and perhaps Alberta Hunter, Ethel Waters and, maybe,
Trixie Smith.  
Mmmmmmmmmmm.
Unfortunately we do not know when Louis started singing publicly as, from
memory, no one seems to have recalled it. Clowning with the 1922-24 Oliver
perhaps. 
But his first vocal notes did not appear on record until late Nov 1924, a
short scat on Fletcher Henderson's "Everybody Loves My Baby", then nothing
until Feb 1926 and "Georgia Grind/Heebie Jeebies".
By which time we had lots of people singing 'jazz'.
But Louis was certainly unique from that period, in that he sang like he
played. Hot! 
I believe that Louis put the rhythm into jazz singing. The rest followed.
Which is maybe why we still have jazz trumpet players who think it is their
God-given gift. Just kidding (I think).
Or am I being one-eyed? Again!
Very kind regards,
Bill.