[Dixielandjazz] Mighty Aphrodite Jazz Band

[Edgerton, Paul A]

Bret E. Bradford wrote:
> I would appreciate any comments on this West Coast group. I have been
> approached about booking them for a gig but don't know much about
about
> them. Supposedly they are fantastic, but that opinion may be biased.

Steve Barbone wrote:
> Bottom line is very simple. HIRE THEM. They are a band of young women.
> The audience is a lot of old men who still fantasize.
>
> Are they fantastic? Why worry about it? You can bet every nickel you
> have that they will draw a crowd of admirers whether or not they can
> play jazz.
>
> And that is the BOTTOM LINE. Good music would be an added bonus, but
> not necessary because your audience will not really be listening.

Steve, that may be *your* bottom line, but not all of us hold attendance
or sales figures as our standard.  For many of us, jazz is a sideline;
we are amateurs in the pure sense of the word.  For us, good music is in
fact the bottom line.  Ten year old Jonathan is indeed a sensation, but
would we care about him if he couldn't play?

Mighty Aphrodite is a new band.  All of its members happen to be young
and female, the appeal of which cannot be denied.  All of that aside,
they play good music, quite competently.  As I see it, Ms. Skonberg is a
rising star and she would not be if she was merely a pretty girl.  That
she has chosen to present herself in the context of an all-girl band is
significant, but what will bring the audience back again and again is
their considerable *musical* talents.  Mighty Aphrodite doesn't sound
like, say, the Climax Jazz Band -- but then neither does Fulton Street
or any of the other fine groups who appeared at the Arizona festival.
All of us are different, which is as it should be.

Presumably, Bret has listened to Mighty Aphrodite's CD and can judge for
himself whether they are "fantastic."  To be sure, his paying customers
will make their own judgments about it.  What he really wants to know
is: will this band ensure a good turnout?  No band can make that
guarantee, but few bands have more going for them than Mighty Aphrodite.

Come on, Bret, what more could you ask for?

-- Paul Edgerton