[Dixielandjazz] King Oliver by Peruna Jazzmen

[Brian Towers]

John,

I'll buy that!  Quite true - I'm also sure they did not sound anything like
their recordings, when playing dances, concerts etc.
The numbers would be longer than three minutes too, without the time
constraints of the old "78" to contend with.  However I am sure they would
still sound as if they were playing for each other - like a team!
Cheers,
Brian Towers
Toronto
From: "john petters" <johnpetters at tiscali.co.uk>
To: "'Brian Towers'" <towers at allstream.net>;
<dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 6:50 PM
Subject: RE: [Dixielandjazz] King Oliver by Peruna Jazzmen


> Brian said
> >I suggest: copy the spirit of the way "Oliver" played copy the
> instrumentation if you will; ( i.e. two cornets, tbn,clnt/reeds, bass,
> drums, banjo etc) copy the seemingly effortless way the freeblowing
> ensembles blend together; copy the restraint of the superb "under-playing"
> rhythm section; copy the "space" they leave for the front-line; copy the
way
> >they supplement the soli and ensembles;
>
> Brian, I would suggest the apparent restraint ogf the rhythm section has
> more to do with the recording limitations than trying to play in a
> restrained manner. All Baby Dodds had was a snare, a block and a cymbal.
No
> toms and no bass drum. My guess is that in reality, the Oliver section
> sounded like Jelly's Billy Goat Stomp / Hyena Stomp, where Baby is playing
> in the style Steve suggested manifested itself in the '40s. Very vigorous,
> very exciting and very hot. Another approximation would be the rhythm
> section sound on the Dodds Blackbottom Stompers session (Erastus, Joe
> Turner, Stomp Stomp, Stomp etc). Judging from what witnesses who heard the
> band said, the recordings did not do them justice.
> Whenever we do an Oliver set, usually with Cuff Billett and Ken Sims, the
> music is quite wild. The rhythm section generally has Annie Hawkins on slp
> bass, which ensures that the rhythm section kicks. We do  not sound like
> Oliver, however, and couldn't no matter how hard we tried, but we all know
> the material backwards and I hope have absorbed the spirit of the music.
>
>
> John Petters
> Amateur Radio Station G3YPZ
> www.traditional-jazz.com