[Dixielandjazz] OKOM - what it means to me as an educator (OT?)

[Vaxtrpts at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/15/2006 7:47:30 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
civanj at adelphia.net writes:

Just how  the heck restricted IS this so-called definition?
Mine goes from King  Oliver to Miles Davis (until "Bitches Brew" when I gave 
up.)
And that's  just the jazz part of MyKOM.
I guess I get a bit up tight about this. The  term OKOM always sets me "off."
It reminds me of the country club set  referring to "OUR king of people."
Craig Johnson
Persnickety  curmudgeon.



>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I love it, Craig.  I couldn't have said it better.  As was stated  in my 
"review" of the recent Trad Jazz Competition that was held in Sacramento,  there 
are certainly proper places for performing what we might call, more  
"traditional" forms of jazz, and I am all for that.  As I have also stated,  I LOVE 
listening to Jim Cullum's band, as well as others of that genre, but as a  jazz 
educator I also have to remember that to the kids, Bird, Miles and Diz are  
traditional jazz.  My main goal is to get more people to appreciate any  kind of 
jazz and build our audience with a more open mind.  (I guess I do  draw the 
line with someone like Kenny G, as far as calling it "jazz.") 
There was just a big discussion about Chris Botti on a trumpet discussion  
group. Some people didn't like him, mainly because he plays a "smoother" form of 
 jazz (actually great old standard tunes done in a newer vein).  They mainly  
didn't like him because they felt he had "coped out" to make money.  Many  of 
us "pros" talked about the fact that he was still a good player and we would  
LOVE to have his bank account........
I too, consider big band music as part of my OKOM desires.  It is  probably 
my favorite kind of music to play and to listen to.  
Well, I have probably stayed "off course" enough for one message.
Thanks for reading.
Mike Vax