[Dixielandjazz] Charlie Parker

[john petters]

Steve said

> What can I say? Don't like Parker, that's fine. That is a personal choice.
But
> please, enough of this "who should listen to what" advice, to others,
based
> upon you personal choices. That part of the world we live in is still free
and
> folks, including trad jazz musicians, should listen to whomever and
whatever
> they want.

I don't have a problem with that and I would not dictate to anybody that
they must not listen to any music or particular style.

to which Allan replied
> Well put, Steve. I've been listening to this dumb argument for over 20
years.
> My feeling is, if somebody plays good they are worth listening to.

No quarrel with that either

> It doesn't
> mean you have to play their way, but a good player can learn from Parker,
> Bechet, Armstrong, Coltrane, et al. >If you can't see what you can learn
you
> shouldn't be trying to play in OKOM in the first place.


Here I do disagree. I have met many young musicians who have filled their
ears with Bird or Trane etc and ignored the roots. One young player told me
there was no point in listening to anything before Benny Goodman. That is
nonsense because they missed the foundation that Goodman was built upon and
their music shows. The great players over here stated with Dodds, Noone,
Bechet etc. Some of the bright whizz kids can't even play Lady Be Good but
can do a rent Coltrane.  If you are going to play the traditional styles of
jazz convincingly then you HAVE to understand these musicians. Listening to
Parker etc will not help and in actual fact could hinder.

John Petters
Amateur Radio Station G3YPZ
www.traditional-jazz.com