[Dixielandjazz] Re: Imitators

[Dan Augustine]

Steve and DJML--
     I guess we all see things different ways, and enjoy different 
things (duh! iterating the obvious is one of my hobbies).
     There's a difference between 'imitating' (trying to sound like 
someone) and "playing in the style of" (like New Orleans style, 
Condon style, etc.).  A number of current bands like to play Condon 
style or West Coast style, but they're not trying to sound exactly 
like Eddie Condon's or Turk Murphy's bands, they're trying to play in 
that style in their own individual way.  Nothing wrong with that, as 
far as i can see.
     In fact, there's nothing wrong with imitating someone.  If we're 
paid to entertain, why not imitate Elvis (ugh for me personally) or 
Louis (one chorus or song max for me) if doing so entertains the 
audience?  Bands that play in the style of popular dance-bands of the 
1920's or 1930's have good or excellent musicians, play some nice 
songs, and entertain their audiences repeatedly, so that's OK in my 
book.  There are all kinds of audiences who like that, but our bands 
don't have to play like that if we don't like that style.  To each 
his own.

     Dan

(who also likes artists like Enya, Flogging Molly, Bruckner, Mexican 
bandas, Romanian brass-band music, Gabrieli canzonas, Josquin, The 
Limeliters, Beatles, Stones, Gyorgy Legeti, Stan Kenton, Don Ellis, 
Spike Jones, Thelonius Monk, Bobby Short, Bill Watrous, et 
unabashedly cetera)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Date: Wed, 04 Aug 2004 12:40:52 -0400
>From: Steve Barbone <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
>Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Imitators - was Armstrong/Presley imatitors
>
>Why is it that many of us hate Armstrong vocal imitators, and 
>Presley imitators, yet we wax eloquently about bands and musicians 
>that imitate Goodman, or Oliver, or Bix, or Turk, or Lu, or Armand 
>J. Piron ad nauseaum?
>
>Could it be that we are PC, elitist, musical snobs?
>
>Hmmmmmm. ;-) VBG
>
>Cheers,
>Steve Barbone

-- 
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**  Dan Augustine    Austin, Texas   ds.augustine at mail.utexas.edu     **
**     "Familiar things happen, and mankind does not bother about     **
**      them. It requires a very unusual mind to undertake the        **
**      analysis of the obvious." -- Alfred North Whitehead           **
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