[Dixielandjazz] Re: New Orleans Jazz Band not Dixieland Jazz Band

[tcashwigg at aol.com]

We have the same CULT problem here in the USA as well Sir Graham:

They call it Dixieland, but a lot of it ain't from Dixie and It sure as 
Hell ain't Jazz either :))
Same goes for New Orleans, Jazz Bands that ain't from or never been to 
New Orleans to hear any Real New Orleans Jazz, it is what is known as 
Close enough for Jazz.    Ya gotta look real hard to find any Real New 
Orleans Jazz these days.   It has just been revived too many times with 
too many accents :))    Most folks wouldn't recognize any Real New 
Orleans Jazz if they were sitting in the front row of a Kermit Ruffins 
show.   They would no doubt say stuff like he don't sound very 
Dixieland to me.

Thank goodness he doesn't,  Somebody has to keep it REAL.  It's how it 
Feels not how it looks on the fake book pages folks:
You can't read what comes from the heart and soul of a musician any 
more than you can write it onto a chart.

Same goes for the SWING, you can't write it on the chart, ya gotta feel 
it and be able to swing it.  Just like Jacob's Ladder, it ain't the 
ladder it's the way that you climb. :))

More guys need to take off the jockey shorts and wear boxer shorts, or 
better no shorts at all and become real swingers!!  :))

Loosen up and follow the beat of a different drummer :))  ha ha

CHEERS,

TOM WIGGINS

-----Original Message-----
From: Graham Martin <grahmartin at bigpond.com>
To: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
Sent: Sun, 29 Jan 2006 11:51:38 +1000
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Re: New Orleans Jazz Band not Dixieland Jazz 
Band

   Richard Redmond said:



["So I have been thinking (always a dangerous thing) about the idea of 
calling
my band a New Orleans Jazz Band instead of a Dixieland Jazz Band. 
Dixieland has
become a bad word in some circles.  I think the kids don't relate to 
it, and
some others think the term is almost obscene.  Especially since 
Katrina, and the
world's reaction to the tragedy with all of the world sympathizing and 
reaching
out to help,  it seems to make more sense."]



Oh Gees, I can hear all the European-based New Orleans styled bands 
having
apoplexy! I guess they would think the change of name is okay providing 
you are
going to play 'their' kind of N.O. music, which is based on the revival 
style of
Bunk Johnson, George Lewis, Kid Ory etc. They are very protective of 
the style
and there is a whole cult following, the headquarters of which you will 
find
here:



http://www.kencolyertrust.org/index2.html



I feel we have flogged the unpopularity of the word 'Dixieland' to 
death on this
list and there is no point in discussing it further. I would just to 
say, I
disagree with your summation of the situation on a worldwide basis.



If you want to play Dixieland-style music (call it what you will: 
Chicago style,
Condon style, West Coast, San Francisco) you can hardly call it a New 
Orleans
band! Well, not in Europe or Oz anyway! Why not just drop the 
'Dixieland and
retain the 'Jazz Band'. Or use some other non specific name like 
'Jazzband', or
'Stompers' (my choice for my band), 'Strutters', 'Gang', 'Paraders', 
'Jazzmen',
'Rhythm Kings', 'Traditional Band', 'Hot Five', etc. You will find some 
other
suggestions on this website, but by far the most popular is 'Jazzband' 
-
although your spell checker will probably have a problem with the word.



http://www.revivaljassband.nl/



Of course I do always recognise there are some misunderstandings 
between
Americans and Europeans (even Aussies!) when it comes to describing the 
exact
genre of jazz being played by a band. In Europe the term Traditional 
Jazz
includes both N.O. Jazz and Dixieland, and many other nuances of those 
styles. I
had thought Americans were also coming around to this same 
understanding. These
days I tend to go along with the French and call our style of jazz 
"'Hot' Jazz".
And then of course there's OKOM (Grin).



And always remember that Eddie Condon said, "We called it music"! Slick 
was also
critical of a Frenchman giving advice to Americans, and so perhaps this
Aussie/Pom should be a bit more circumspect.



Best,



Grah



Graham Martin
Email: grahmartin at bigpond.com
Website: http://tromjazz.netfirms.com
REDLAND BAY
Queensland
AUSTRALIA
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