[Dixielandjazz] Jazz in The USA - Was Jazz In The UK

[Steve barbone]

We have many opinions that OKOM Jazz Bands are not viable in the USA. IMO,
that is simply not the case.

There are 3 VERY VIABLE OKOM bands in the US and MANY other Working Jazz
Bands in the US that make a living on a "territorial" basis.

The VERY VIABLE that fill venues.

1) Preservation Hall Jazz Band

2) Lincoln Center Jazz Band (Its N.O. Jazz Versions)

3) Jim Cullum's Jazz Band.


The "working" Jazz Bands include mine in Philadelphia, Vince Giordano in
NYC, and a HOST of others, too numerous to name.

In my case, our band is the major source of musical income for many of the
top musicians in the area. They cancel other gigs to make Barbone Street
dates. 

In Giordano's case, look at the line up he has for the Pennsylvania Jazz
Society on October 16. Trumpets - Randy Reinhart and Jon Erik Kellso.
Trombone, Brad Shigeta, Reeds, Dan Levinson &Mark Lopeman and Dan Block,
Brass & String Bass + Bass Sax,  Vince Girodano, Violin, Andy Stein,
Banjo/Guitar Mark McCarron, Drums, John Gill. This band performs on a
regular basis in New York City.

If near the area, I suggest folks go see them at the BARGAIN rate of $18, 2
to 6 PM, Easton Moose Club.

In my case, we have two MONSTER gigs coming up in addition to all of our
regular stuff.

October 30: Beaux Arts Ball. Philadelphia's Premier Party. Attendance 3500,
at the New Constitution Center 7:30 PM to 3:00 AM. Varied admission schedule
for this charity event, from $75 to $2000. We play one hour sets at 7:30 PM,
10:00 PM and Midnight. Maybe a final at 2:00 AM if folks are still partying,
and we suspect they will be.

Nov 6 and 7; Dover Downs Wine & Jazz Festival, Dover Downs Casino. We play
one hour sets at Noon, 2 PM and 4 PM. Both days. Other headliner is Tito
Puente Jr. (Both of us back by popular demand from 2003) We expect an
audience of 1000 at each of our sets.

Point being there are some extraordinary opportunities for OKOM bands out
there which we mostly ignore because we do not follow the current
entertainment scene. Most of us are simply not hip to what is going on these
days because we are no longer a part of it.

EXCEPTIONS ARE A FEW OF US WHO ARE NOT SUFFERING FROM THROMBOSIS OF THE
BLOWHOLE. Bands like the ones mentioned have found a niche playing for the
new audience here in the USA, while the rest simply wallow in self pity and
bitch about lack of interest among the uncultured youth.

Heck, I'll bet most of us even missed the press release that Queen Latifa
has just recorded a jazz album (standards) while saying that she is leaving
hip-hop for jazz. Ha Ha, doesn't she know, (like most of us would declaim)
that there is no market for jazz?

Hey old folks, get hip to the fact that there is a market for jazz. Bill
Gunter gave us the part of key in his post.

> Audiences want to participate rather than listen. They want VOLUME.
> they want youth. They want ATTITUDE!

Isn't that what OKOM should be? Isn't that what it used to be? Before the
current crop of bands de-balled it? Golly gee, if you want to dance to music
are you somehow an idiot? My my, how far the music has gotten away from what
it really was. All in the name of Art so we "listeners" could massage our
egos in our old age. ("We recognize art, you don't, you philistine.")

However, his: 

> They want stuff that will offend anybody
> over 30. Pander to that sort of
> audience and you, too, can be a millionaire.

Is just myopic sour grapes. The usual old folk's lament. Exactly what our
parents and grandparents said at the dawn of the jazz age. The kids under 30
ARE the audience and it's time we old, artery hardened, reactionaries
realized it. After all, most of us came to love jazz when we were that age.
All they want is music with a message. That's what ODJB, NORK, King Oliver,
Louis, Bix, Condon, Scobey, et al delivered.

Have we already forgotten that simple fact? Alzheimer's perhaps?

Cheers,
Steve Barbone