[Dixielandjazz] Condon Style Ensemble

[Stan Brager]

Steve;

Billy May's "The Wrong Idea" was a parody of the Kay Kyser and other "Mickey
Mouse" bands and, in no way, a reference to other forms of jazz. Listen to
some of the Chicago Style blowing of Billy May on the Capitol Jazzmen
recording of November 16, 1943 of "Clambake In B-Flat" and others.

Stan
Stan Brager
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Barbone" <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
To: "DJML" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2006 7:47 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Condon Style Ensemble


> Dear me, there seems to be some question of what I mean by "less emphasis
on
> ensemble" as applied to Condon Style vs. other Dixieland styles.
>
> Kash hit it right on the head. I simple mean exactly what the words said,
> "less emphasis on ensemble" than other styles. Please do not read more
that
> that into those four words.
>
> I did not mean that their ensemble work sucked, or was of lesser musical
> quality that other styles. Just that they emphasized it LESS THAN THE SOLO
> CONTENT in the total context of their song performance.
>
> Certainly virtually all of Condon's recorded legacy, and his live
> performances, with a huge variety of musicians over the years, had
EXCELLENT
> ENSEMBLE performances along with EXCELLENT SOLO performances.
>
> The reason for this was relatively simple. Condon worked with superb jazz
> musicians who were all first rate improvisers. They were a relaxed, free
> blowing, group that even though "formulaic", were a blast to see and hear.
>
> Their basic approach, in chorus, solos, out chorus made it relatively easy
> for the kind of competent jazz musicians Condon hired, to walk into a gig
> cold and swing their asses off in both ensemble and in solos. Without
> charts, and or ricky, tricky, over arranging.
>
> So what you hear is, IMO, the best OKOM there is, with more solo content
and
> less ensemble content than the other styles.
>
> I think Charlie Barnet and Bill May, (perhaps after hearing Condon Groups)

> wrote a parody song "The Wrong Idea" somewhat descriptive of that. Late
> 1930s or so.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone
>
>
>
>