[Dixielandjazz] CDs to Brazil & Where Do We Draw The Line

[Steve Barbone]

As Kash says, I think many bands get a lot of requests like the one from 
Carlos in Brazil.

But I also think, as Brian Harvey says, that most Jazz Radio stations 
have very limited budgets, if any,. so I am happy to take a chance that 
it might not be a scam. I will always send CDs to them.  Like the three 
University Jazz stations in my area. No budgets, volunteer unpaid DJs, 
etc. I have gotten numerous gigs here because they play our CDs locally, 
and have also gotten 6 gigs or so here in Philadelphia in the past two 
years because people in Seattle, Chicago and Columbus heard us on 
distant radio stations there, that received free CDs from me. They were 
either getting married, or throwing a party here. A great return for 
such little effort.

What's the worst that can happen? That somebody got a free CD? If one 
out of 5 are legit, you are way ahead. Plus, it makes an old man (me) 
feel good that just maybe, I've done something worthwhile. The Brazil 
CDs will probably never get me a gig, but so what? Our band mission is 
"To expand the audience for Dixieland" and this is our way of walking 
the walk, not just talking the talk.

Dan Spink asks, Where do we draw the line on "OKOM? I'm with Pat Cooke. 
Why does there have to be a line? Especially one that no two people can 
agree on. Why try and put OKOM in a neat little box that then restricts 
it? If we must define it, then perhaps the broadest definition is the 
best. Like "trad jazz, or OKOM, or Dixieland is for the most part, small 
band polyphonic counterpoint." But then, even that restricts it so as 
not to include the music of Gershwin, Kern, Rodgers, McHugh, Mancini, 
Mandel, et al,, or big band swing, which many of us seem to agree is 
OKOM when played or sung by anything from a duo to an 18 piece orchestra.

It is all jazz, and as Louis Armstrong said, "Jazz is what YOU are." So 
it may not be Our Kind Of Music, but rather Your Kind of Music. As Mike 
Marois said, the Dukes did it with more modern tunes, but there are many 
ways to update the music/presentation and make it relevant to the youth 
market. Shame on us if we do not do so.

Are we "Jazz" fans, or are we "segmented jazz" fans? Seems to me the 
total audience has many different ideas as do most of us on the List. 
Like the guy who wrote a letter printed in the current American Rag. He 
didn't think there was enough trad jazz at the Sacramento Jubilee. What? 
with about 30 Dixieland Bands there? Is he serious? That's more 
Dixieland than any other festival in the USA even though there are 
alternative music forms also.

Personally, I will be glad when the last of the Dixieland literati  are 
gone and the music goes back to the musicians and the dancers. Aren't 
others sick and tired of a small group of self appointed experts telling 
the musicians:

a) What is or is not Dixieland.
b) What the instrumentation should be.
c) What tunes should be played.
d) How bands should dress.
e) That the music is for listening only so, audience, shut up and don't 
dance.
f) Whether or not your concept is valid and your band is playing jazz.
g) How the music should be arranged.

Etc., etc., etc.

I only hope I outlive those few experts who are left and can still play 
jazz as it was meant to be. IMO it is the music of FREEDOM, and should 
be done any way the band/musician wants. Like Chuck Hedges was quoted in 
a recent article: "I hate playing someone else's licks." Hear, hear.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone