[Dixielandjazz] Italians Invented Yass

[Russ Guarino]

To All Scholars and Musician Historians:

We need to put to rest the Guarino mystery relating to jazz.

My Guarino Grandfather was a baker who immigrated with his young wife to Buffalo
and finally settled in Southern California.  He never leaned to speak English.
I was unable to talk to him.  He did a lot of singing, but no jazz.  My father
was also a baker and quite a ladies man.  He spoke both English and Italian, but
did not play an instrument.  He was a dancer in his youth and performed in the
early movies along with my mom, and her two brothers.

One more thing, here in Monterey, California, there was a large group of
Sicilian fishermen who settled here, turn of the century.  Their progeny own
much of the town  today and the busiest musical groups here are the bands of
Mike Marotta and his son Mike Marotta, Jr.  They are both accordionists and
quite talented.

Other local names, Salvatore Ferrantelli, Ph.D.. Chairman, music dept. of
Monterey Peninsula College, Bert Cutino, owner of the Sardine Factory
restaurant.  The list goes on.

Russ Guarino

Steve barbone wrote:

> "Tito Martino" <tmartino at terra.com.br> wrote (polite snip)
>
> Stefano Barbone wrote:
> As Richard Sudhalter said in his book, "Lost Chords" because there
> were so many Italians in New Orleans playing jazz at the beginning, someone
> should write a book on Italians and their contribution to jazz.
> ---------
> > Are you kidding, fella?! Dontcha you know WE Italians invented Yazz in
> > 1904?!
> > Justa take a looka to the names at that time:
> > Nicola, (Nick) LaRocca, etc,  etc, etc.
>
> Hey Tito;
>
> You forgot my favorite Sicilian School clarinetist, Nunzio Scaglione.
> (Sicilian school is a flowery, ornamental style, which adapted to jazz)
>
> As well as a bunch of other early 20th Century Sicilians in Jazz like Lala,
> Veca, Giardino,  Bonano, Cordilla, Coltraro, Guarino (Hey Russ, your
> Grandpa?) Pinero, Schiro, Mangiapane, Liberto, Franzella, Mello, Palmisano.
>
> Because of the anti Sicilian riots which resulted in lynchings of 19 or so
> Sicilians in New Orleans circa 1891, the Italians became a much despised 2nd
> class citizenry there. Thus their musicians, similar in many respects to
> black musicians, were ignored by the "historians" and even Nick LaRocca's
> over the top boasts could not overcome that slight.
>
> As an aside, that helped the Mafia form and strengthen in New Orleans. And
> non musician relatives of Bonano (and Provensano, who Tito first mentioned)
> led the two leading Mafia families) Just goes to show you not to mess with
> Italian musicians because we get even. :-) VBG
>
> Thank goodness the Mafia formed because they bought all the nightclubs in
> Chicago, New York etc., and were the largest employers (and just about the
> only employers) of jazz bands in the United States during the prohibition
> era. Those halcyon days of jazz when the music was much more visceral than
> the "art form" revivalists would have us believe today.
>
> The FIRST Jazz Band in history was led by a Sicilian immigrant named Gombari
> Boldano who later Americanized his name to Buddy Bolden and passed for black
> because blacks were treated better than Italians in early 20th Century New
> Orleans. Dan Hardie, do you know about this? :-) VBG.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone
>
> PS. The above is all true except the last paragraph. So, those who still try
> and separate jazz, from social developments in the USA might reflect a bit
> and re-examine their bias.
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dixielandjazz mailing list
> Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz