[Dixielandjazz] listening to OKOM is absolutely essential

[john petters]

Steve said
>No, one does not need to listen endlessly to OKOM in order to become a good
>OKOM band. One needs only to be a jazz musician, (more than a musician who
>also plays jazz) THIS IS RELATIVELY SIMPLE MUSIC

Wow Steve! I can't let you get away with this!!!!!! Maybe if you asre a
genius that would be true, but I assume you are like me, a mere mortal. Not
continually listening to OKOM leaves you with the very great risk of
standing still or worse - going backwards. As you know I worked with Art
Hodes and Al Casey and had them as house guests. Art was 85 and Al in his
mid '70s. Art wanted to listen to my jazz collection. He soaked it up like a
spunge and he was an American original who arguably did not need to listen.
Similarly with Al. He told me that all the guys in the Harlem Blues & Jazz
Band had bought walkmans and listened all the time while on the road. Ken
Sims told he he toured with Sonny Terry & Brownie Magee and they were
moaning the blues all the time. All these guys had a wealth of originality
and unique talent, yet they had the humility to realise that there was
always more to do. If you were living in the jazz age where the music on the
media was jazz or swing, then again maybe you don't need to listen.  You
were about then - but things is different now!! Also, no matter how old you
are and how many times you listen to King Oliver or Louis or Jelly, there is
always something fresh you can pick up.
Relativley Simple Music? You are joking Steve. To play broadly traditional
jazz creatively and properly needs a great deal of dedication and skill.
Part of that is using your ears. I have hot jazz going on much of the time
when I am in my office. It is subconciously seeping in. I hear melodies in
my minds ear from records that I can't put a name to. The best musicians
over here do the same. Some may regard that as an anorak occupation, but you
can tell in their playing that they know where the music is from.

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