[Dixielandjazz] Jazz music, good and mediocre bands, communication and beautiful sounds

[Vaxtrpts at aol.com]

In a message dated 8/15/2006 7:59:01 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,  
heu at bart.nl writes:

Europe  embraced the jazz legacy in the forties, started to copy and then
started  developing jazz on its own. Reading DJML I found out there's
a lot of  unjustified patriotism in the U.S.A. I think the level of jazz in
Europe is  much higher than in the U.S.A. Most bands in Europe
are just superiour to  U.S.A.-bands. I know we all have to pay our
debts to the originators, but  it is time to see the truth, so that
we can communicate on the right  level.
Ducking,
Cees van den Heuvel



>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Cees, Cees, be careful -- you seem to be bordering on Steve Barbone  "lording 
it over everybody" territory.  Are you learning from him???   About the only 
difference is that you didn't try to "sneak in" your put down  with the "VBG" 
crap at the end.
I agree with Paul's evaluation about European audiences.  They are the  best 
jazz audiences that I have ever played for -- and they come out in much  
better numbers than for most performances in the USA.  But, I have played  many 
festivals in Europe, including Trad festivals, and you have your share of  
"mediocre" bands over there too.
One of the great things about playing and listening to jazz music of any  
kind, is that you can go pretty much anywhere in the world (well, maybe not the  
Arab countries) and find some wonderful jazz.  One of my delights in 40  years 
on the road, has always been to go out and find good jazz in cities all  over 
the world.  Another delight has always been the comradery between jazz  
musicians ANYWHERE.  Both in performing with new friends and also in being  able to 
hang out and talk about jazz music and musicians.  (Sometimes even  when 
there is a "language barrier" we seem to be able to get points across and  enjoy 
each other's company.)
What other idiom is there where you can put a group of people together who  
all speak a different language, put musical instruments in their hands, have NO 
 music in front of any person, call a tune ------ and make beautiful sounds  
together.  That is why, in my mind, jazz music is one of the highest forms  of 
communication that human beings can create.
Mike Vax