[Dixielandjazz] FW: Dixieland Styles

[Jim Kashishian]

Interesting, the discussion on Dixieland styles.  Even as a kid starting
out, when still in the South Frisco Jazz Band, I could see the "separation"
of styles happening.  I was, due to my tone & developing style, aiming
towards the Dukes of Dixieland, while some others in the band were leaning
toward Lu Watters/Turk.

Later, when I joined the Canal Street Jazz Band, we had a French sop sax
player who was deeply into Sidney B.  And, our rhythm section, were great at
the older styles, but true loves really leaned toward more modern styles.
Our trumpeter, having played with every Spanish singer in the lists, and who
had even played with Prez Prado in his youth, added a "Spanish" flavor to
the band.  (He cracks me up every time he plays the bridge to Hoagy's "New
Orleans"!) I, myself, was exposed to all the Spanish & International styles
by working as a recording session musician for 25 yrs.  

What developed out of that mishmash of styles was a style all our own.  We
had no pressure from our audiences to play any particular style...they only
showed that they wished to have an exciting, driving sound...so, we were
left to our own devises.  

40 yrs on, we have a sound that is very much our own.  I would prefer to
call it a "sound", rather than a "style". Our actual style will change very
much depending on the song we are playing, or even how we "decide" to
perform that particular song at a particular moment.  (The style of a song
can shift mid-tune to something completely different by introducing a new
riff or a rhythm.)  This all keeps each song fresh & new for the band and
for the repeat audience.  Sometimes it can cause a great deal of fun for the
band, particularly when funny things pop up unnexpectedly.

No demand has been made on any one member to follow a particular style, as
we have stayed away from having a particular "leader" of the group, so the
individual creative spirit was left to be very much alive.

It's one of many formulas used by bands.  This one works for us.  (Our
newest member joined the band in 1981, so it is a fairly close knit group.)

A little over a year ago, Vince Saunders (banjo) visited us one night here
in Madrid, on his way to a jazz festival in Portugal.  I hadn't seen him
since one brief day in 1969, and before that, while I was still in his band
(South Frisco) in Huntington Beach (1956 to 1960).

As mentioned earlier, Vince had gone to the Lu/Turk style 100% (which is
fine!).  Nevertheless, he was very excited & happy to listen & enjoy our
band.  We're loud, driving, non-style orientated, but this didn't bother
someone who you would assume to be very much a limited style listener.  Not
so!  One can enjoy all styles of music, just as Vince did with us, by the
use of several criteria....is it well played & performed, did your feet want
to move, did you have fun listening, etc.?  

Jim