[Dixielandjazz] Black Dixieland Bands?

[Brian Towers]

Steve,

I am grateful that you straightened that out - the references are good and
right on the ball!  I will back them up too.   You have done the list a
service!
Cheers,
Brian Towers

Hot Five Jazzmakers, Toronto
(Playing a judicious mixture of classic dixieland, New Orleans jazz revival,
20's golden era jazz, stride, ragtime, marches, blues, spirituals and hot
dance music!!!)


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Barbone" <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
To: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Friday, August 20, 2004 11:04 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Black Dixieland Bands?


> For those who think that black bands call it Dixieland these days. Or
> those who disagree with Dick Sudhalter's conclusions that by the late
> 1930s "Dixieland" was played by white bands and "Small Band Jazz" was
> played by Black bands. Or those who don't know many black jazz
> musicians, I offer the following:
>
> George Lewis said in his remarks at a live concert in Bakersfield CA USA
> circa 1953-5 or so, "You won't get to hear this music too much longer as
> we are getting old. He was referring to "New Orleans Jazz", not
> Dixieland because there were plenty of young White bands playing
> Dixieland then.
>
> I spoke with him 3 or 4 times in my youth and I believe he always
> referred to his music as "New Orleans Jazz" in our conversations.
>
> Following quote is from "Jazz By Mail" about a Lewis Band 1949 album. It
> refers to the music as "New Orleans Jazz". It is typical of the media
> hype of the music.
>
> Jazz Funeral In New Orleans
> George Lewis 1949 release JAZZ FUNERAL IN NEW ORLEANS - Kid Howard - tp;
> George Lewis - cl; Jim Robinson - tm; Alton Purnell - pn; Lawrence
> Marrero - bj; Alcide Pavageau - st bs; Joe Watkins - d
>
> Song List: 1. Ice Cream 2. Down By the Riverside 3. Burgundy Street
> Blues 4. Just a Closer Walk With Thee 5. Panama 6. Doctor Jazz 7. When
> The Saints Go Marching In 8. Lou-easy-an-i-a .
>
> "Album Details: Folks whose ears were piqued by the old-timey sounds of
> the Squirrel Nut Zipper might want to check out a recent release on the
> Tradition imprint, entitled Jazz Funeral In New Orleans. Contrary to its
> rather grim title, Jazz Funeral is not an actual interment ceremony, nor
> is it Dixieland of the rooty-tooty, goofy, pinstripe-suit variety, but
> some serious dynamite vintage New Orleans jazz, led by clarinetist and
> bandleader George Lewis, one of the all-time greats. It swings, it
> struts, and it's a real hoot. The sessions were also recorded in the
> late `50s, recently enough that it doesn't have that tinny `20s feeling
> of listening to music that's squawking through a paper cone."
>
> Also note this from The Preservation Hall Web Site:
>
> "The Music:"
> "Originating in the early part of the century, New Orleans Jazz is not
> to be confused with the two-beat Dixieland style. The tempo is a shade
> slower than the other jazz forms and the melody is always clearly heard
> with improvisation at its heart. Unobscured by complicated arrangements,
> its greatness lies in its simplicity. Bands generally consist of five to
> seven pieces, with the trumpet usually the musical leader."
>
> Lest we be dismissive of them, they are a "working" jazz band and most
> of us are not. They also play venues we can only dream about.
>
> "The Preservation Hall Jazz Band performs nightly at Preservation Hall
> and tours around the world over 150 days a year. The band has appeared
> at many famous venues, including Carnegie Hall (NYC), Symphony Hall
> (Boston), Monterey Jazz Festival (CA) and the Red Sea Jazz Festival
> (Israel.)"
>
> I only know one black jazz musician who says he plays Dixieland. That
> would be Paul Grant who plays trumpet in Barbone Street. I know a couple
> of dozen who say they play New Orleans Jazz and/or Small Band Jazz. It
> may sounds suspiciously like Dixieland to me, but neither they, nor the
> media, nor the record producers call it by that name.
>
> And, Wynton Marsalis is calling his offerings of the roots of jazz
> music, "New Orleans Jazz." as is the media attention he generates
>
> More info about it? Write me off list and I will give you chapter and
> verse as to why and how it happened that way.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone
>
>
>
>
>
>
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