[Dixielandjazz] Re: The "Jazz" Police

[patcooke77 at yahoo.com]

Steve wrote:

"They will frequently say something like "That's not the way to play trad
jazz", or a specific song or what ever. Those of us who play to people who
do not have those hang ups about a right way, or a wrong way to play jazz
and/or Dixieland are very fortunate in avoiding self appointed "experts"."

It seems the jazz police are always there to tell you that they know something that you don't know.  I always thought the whole idea of jazz was to play a tune just a little (or a lot) different from every one else.  Without that creativity, it just isn't jazz.  I'm guessing the jazz police were there to tell Louis he wasn't playing like Buddy Bolden.
    I have a friend who said her favorite tune is Misty.  So I put on a track of Erroll Garner playing Misty.  After the first chorus, he started to improvise a little.  She said "He's not playing it right, he's ruining it."  I said "he wrote it.  He can play it any way he wants to."  She didn't agree.  I knew it would be futile to say any more.  
     Preservation and creativity seem to have a problem coexisting.  It depends on what you want to do (or are able to do) best.  If one leans more to the creative side, the creativity will be hard to contain and preservation will suffer.  Just how much creativity is allowed depends upon the mindset of the policeman du jour; and the mindset depends a lot on what said policeman has been listening to most. 
    Some time back, someone was bemoaning the fact tht there have been no great innovators since Louis.  My answer is there have been a number of innovators, but if I mention any of their names the jazz police will want to throw me off the list.   The truth is that true preservation does not allow innovation.
     It may come as a shock to some, but the present (young) generation regards traditional jazz as players like Dave Brubeck.  They really don't want to learn about real trad any more than the older generation wants to learn about heavy metal.
    
         Pat Cooke
     New Orleans
 
----- Original Message ----
From: Steve barbone <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
To: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2006 2:54:03 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Re: Dixielandjazz Digest, Vol 41, Issue 27


"Jim Kashishian" <jim at kashprod.com>

Steve Barbone wrote (snipped)
> As an aside, the type of audience reaction described is precisely the reason
> that I (clarinetist) don't play Petete Fleur, or Burgundy Street Blues, or
> Stranger on The Shore
> Steve Barbone

Kash answered 
> Precisely the reason to play those tunes.  Let people here different
> versions.  Tell them they're gonna here a different version if it's a worry.
> 
> I see some looks of surprise on people's faces when I sing What a Wonderful
> World without using a "gravely" voice.  Then, they just sit back & enjoy the
> song that they love.
> 
> I do Moonlight Serenade without trying to imitate the Tommy Dorsey style on
> the 'bone.  Everyone still grabs their partner & "sway to the swing".  We do
> Georgia on My Mind without imitating Ray Charles, etc.
> 
> Most people just enjoy hearing tunes they recognize, even if the style is
> different.

Yes, I agree completely. Everything we play is recognized by the audience.
Point I was making is that narrow minded fans will dislike a tune made
famous (or "owned" by) a past musician. Armstrong being a bit different
because he made about 500 tunes famous. We all do his tunes.

They will frequently say something like "That's not the way to play trad
jazz", or a specific song or what ever. Those of us who play to people who
do not have those hang ups about a right way, or a wrong way to play jazz
and/or Dixieland are very fortunate in avoiding self appointed "experts".

Boy, I wish a had a dollar for every time some "trad expert" came up to me
and bitched about the fact that we played "If I Were A Bell". Usually saying
something like "Harumph, I didn't know that was jazz." You can imagine my
reply concerning that person's jazz education.

So I avoid Burgundy Street Blues in order not to berate some poor fool who
is bound to come up and say: "Harumph, that ain't the way George Lewis
played it." Well, no s*** Sherlock.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone




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