[Dixielandjazz] Condon Style Ensemble - Correction

[Stan Brager]

Steve;

I shouldn't have relied on memory in my initial email. "The Wrong Idea" was
a parody of the Sammy Kaye orchestra and was recorded on October 9, 1939 for
Victor. It was subtitled "Swing and Sweat With Charlie Barnet". Sammy Kaye
who also recorded for Victor heard about it and complained to the bosses.
They
suppressed "The Wrong Idea" until Sammy left for another label.

By the way, the flip side of "The Wrong Idea" was "The Right Idea" which was
an exciting swinger. Skippy Martin wrote "The Right Idea" and Billy May was
the vocalist on "The Wrong Idea".

Stan
Stan Brager

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stan Brager" <sbrager at socal.rr.com>
To: "Steve Barbone" <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>; "DJML"
<dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2006 11:42 AM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Condon Style Ensemble


> 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
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>