[Dixielandjazz] Ken Burns Jazz Book & Turk Murphy

[Stephen Barbone]

Somebody said that Ken Burns Jazz Book was racist because there is only
one mention of Turk Murphy?

That's a real stretch. First, of all look up the definition of racist.
Then don't be so "hurt" because your favorite musician got scant
mention. Then read the book rather than skimming the index to check
Murphy's mentions, which is on page 338.  Check out the accuracy of the
Goldkette Band trashing Fletcher Henderson's group before attaching
nonsensical labels. Then, ponder the following.

For all of the wonderful things Turk Murphy did, we might wish to put
into perspective the fact that Eddie Condon often referred to him and
the other West Coast Bands as "archeologists". Because they were going
far back into the past to dig up musical ideas. Condon felt that he
alone was looking ahead and playing "modern" Dixieland. Those West Coast
Bands, in his eyes were just looking backwards and doing the same old
thing in the same old way.

>From a historical approach to jazz, there really is not much to say
about most "Dixieland" musicians from 1945 on except that they were re
hashing the same musical problems that their musical fore bearers had
already solved a decade or two before them. That is the main reason why
there are not a lot of "Dixieland" articles or reviews in the media
today. They also attach little importance of today's Dixieland as far as
Jazz is concerned.

As older folks, we love the music of Turk, Lu, and all the contemporary
Dixieland bands. However in the grand scheme of Jazz, they are neither
very important, nor listened to by many people other than us.

Hate to say it, but that's the way it is.

Battening down the hatches, but remember, I'm only the messenger.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone

PS. Just got re-booked for New Years Eve 2004 at the same place we just
played this year. Now that's great news. A wonderful gig at a wonderful
price and we bring our wives/girlfriends. Not all Dixieland is dead.