Subject: [Dixielandjazz] IAJE and OKOM

[DWSI at aol.com]

Kurt: I've got a great idea for jazz educators and the like. Why not talk 
about OKOM WITHOUT making it always sound like a stepping stone to real jazz? 
Even The Teaching Company (which is very good normally) has the "jazz" professor 
from Peabody in Baltimore talking about early jazz as the foundation for, by 
implication, "true jazz" starting with bebop, Stan Kenton, etc. He goes on to 
talk about the microphone. When it was invented in 1924 it made it possible for 
Bing Crosby to compete with Al Jolson (who called Bing a sissy because he 
used one). Then, and this is what kills me, he adds: with the microphone we could 
finally get rid of the banjo and tuba. Who told him "we" wanted to get rid of 
anything? And why do I sound angry?

Dan (piano fingers) Spink