[Dixielandjazz] Mighty Aphrodite - one more time

[Steve barbone]

Paul A" <paul.edgerton at eds.com> wrote

> 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.

PULEEZE. Why then, do you, as a pure amateur, seek an audience? Of course my
"Bottom Line" above refers to audience. But not to "attendance or sales
figures" anywhere in my post. I don't see them anywhere in my post, do you?
Be that as it may, did not Bret ask if they would please the audience in his
original thread starting post?  I tried to answer a question posed by a
festival producer, not one from a fellow musician who, produces good music,
as a sideline or as a starving artist. So shoot him, as a grasping, non
artistic Philistine, not me. (though in your eyes, I may be one) :-) VBG

> Ten year old Jonathan is indeed a sensation, but
> would we care about him if he couldn't play?

I don't know, would you? It took you left coasters two years  of constant
posts about him before you even agreed to try and hear him play. As with
Aphrodite, you can judge him when you hear him at Sacramento 2006. Shoot Bob
Ringwald if you are not impressed with Jonathan. :-) VBG especially to BOB.
 
> 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.

Yes, of course, except that their musical talent alone will not bring the
"audience back". (say, I thought that wasn't your bottom line.) You should
know that by now. And, viva la difference.
 
> 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.

Yes, of course, again. Excellent bands do not guarantee a turnout. Proper
Festival Production/Promotion might. But then, just what is it that
Aphrodite has going for it, that few bands have more of? IMO is is that they
are NEW, YOUNG and EXCITING, which is what I posted previously also. (Note
that you mention "a good turnout" framed as Bret's bottom line.

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

That's what my post was all about. It was a recommendation that there was no
downside to hiring them. Note the very first line of my post which you
quote: "Bottom line is very simple, HIRE THEM."

The whole issue of musical excellence really cracks me up. I was never
concerned about how good they might be. You might remember a few years ago,
the thread where many opined that one couldn't excel at playing OKOM without
listening extensively to Dixieland (played by dead guys) every waking moment
etc., etc., etc. Ad Nauseum? A point to which I vigorously objected?

Now, all of a sudden here is a band where precisely the opposite occurs.
And now they are musically at a point where few bands have more going for
them? If that is the case, then all this stuff about how one must study the
genre, and put in years of paying dues, is simply BS. All one need be is a
good musician. (and being young and good looking too is certainly  helpful)
I am beside myself with joy that some young musicians are getting into the
act. Move over old folks.

And they may well be one of the best bands (musically) on the Festival
circuit. The dead guys, Louis, Eddie, Red, Sidney, Kid, King, Buddy, were
all kids when they became the leading lights of OKOM. Why not Brea and the
girls?

Cheers,
Steve

Tongue somewhat in cheek because as a promoter of kids and jazz, I am also
trying to give Mighty Aphrodite some extra time in the DJML spotlight.
Bottom line remains the same as the original post . . . HIRE THEM. And
girls, if you are listening and ever get to come East, please visit and sit
in with us. We'll have an audience (oops, sorry) your age for you. They will
protect you from us 70+ year old flirts in the Band.

Hopefully for one of our swing dances  at the University Of Pennsylvania, or
a Frat Party, Or a "MAJOR" Jazz Festival, or an International Horse &
Carriage Competition, etc. Yep, you can see for yourselves what our audience
bottom line is all about.

Say, hop a plane this weekend and play with us at an end of semester party
for the leading fraternity at the University Of Pennsylvania. Saturday
night, after our Showboat Casino gig, 10 PM to 2 AM, First Troop Armory in
Philadelphia. Major fun, and guess what? They love good, danceable,
Dixieland.

http://www.barbonestreet