[Dixielandjazz] Funky & Kenny Davern

[john petters]

Steve said
>When explaining "funky", US Dictionaries
refer to one meaning as "funky jazz" and go on to state: "Jazz having an
earthly quality or style derived from early blues or gospel music."  but do
>not explain it further.

I could agree about that. Over here modern rocky forms of jazz are referred
to as jazz funk. They have nothing to do with jazz as I understand it. Same
with Garage (I thought that was somewhere where one could park one's car),
Hip Hop, Drum and Bass ........
The rhythm and blues beat sort of developed from boogie-woogie, into a
shuffle. The 8/8 (if that is the correct way to describe it) also came from
Boogie Woogie. In fact Krupa's original Drum Boogie is an early example of
this. The Rock and Rollers used both beats. Interestingly, Sid Catlett and
Jo Jones played straight swing on boogie woogie numbers in the early days.
By the 50s, the shuffle rhythm had become popular in jazz circles also, with
Sam Woodyard, in my view over doing it with Ellington. The swing
'ten-to-ten' beat on the high hat or ride cymbal has space and allows a
momentum to be built up. Incorrectly, in my view many trad drummers today
play 4 beats on the top cymbal instead of the standard ride. This helps to
prevent many jazz bands from swinging. Where to place the ride beats is also
important, and can be different, ie Jo Jones hi-hat sounds different from
Sid Catletts. 
By and large, most American drummers that I have heard get it right and most
Europeans get it wrong. Hence over this side of the pond many bands sound
rhythmically lumpy.

> Kenny Davern is my hero and he is
funky. He used to carve me up regularly in loft sessions and clubs in NYC in
the 1950s. As far as I am concerned, he is the best OKOM jazz clarinetist on
>the scene today.

I again agree with Steve. Kenny is great to play with, hot, creative,
exciting. Not convinced?  Go get the Jazz at the New School CD recorded in
'72 when he played with Krupa, Wild Bill, Dick Wellstood & Condon. Pity he
stopped playing the soprano sax, he was a unique voice on that as well as on
clarinet. For anyone who is not familiar with Kenny's work listen to this
clip recorded live with my Swing Band in 1988.

www.traditional-jazz.com/sound/livethats.mp3

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