[Dixielandjazz] Shtick

[tcashwigg at aol.com]

Hi Steve:

All one has to do is look back at the history books and even the Ken 
Burns Jazz Book to see that the founding faters of American Jazz were 
almost always distinguished looking and wore Suits and Ties, and or 
Tuxedos to appear Professional and command respect from the audiences.  
  It also worked and they were invited to play many more finer 
establishments with class, such as Hotel Ballrooms, High Class 
restaurants, and social events, weddings, and Political gatherings  
etc..   It was a Day long long ago when Musicians got respect and it 
was indeed a Respectable Profession.   The old Blues Players also used 
to dress very well for success,  look at the Poster child "Robert 
Johnson"
and with all my years with John Lee Hooker,  I never once in my life 
saw him not wearing a Suit, and a hat  no tie however.

If we would all bring a little class back to the music and our bands we 
might get better paying gigs at least more thanthe cleaning bill for 
the suits. :))

Cheers,

Tom Wiggins

-----Original Message-----
From: eupher61 at hotmail.com
To: Tcashwigg at aol.com
Cc: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
Sent: Sat, 21 Apr 2007 11:12 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Shtick

   List-Message-Recipient: tcashwigg at aol.com 
  What is the origin of the whole garter belt/straw hat/red 
suspenders/red vest menality in OKOM? 
 
  Obviously, the whole Rosie O'Grady's/Your Father's Mustache/Shakey's 
thing has a part, but where did THEY get the notion? 
 
  It makes sense that ragtime players in bars/sporting houses would wear 
garters to stash their tips, much like a stripper (so I'm told... ;) 
And I know straw hats were once quite the high fashion, but I also 
doubt that Oliver/Armstrong/ODJB/Wolverines et al would have worn that 
kind of thing on the bandstand. Did they even wear uniforms per se?? 
 
  My hypothesis goes to Max Morath and Bob Darch, doing their shtick in 
the 50's and wearing the garters/straw hats/red vests as part of the 
estimable historic record. To use one of Shiek Littlefield's phrasings, 
the mASSES saw that and figured all the music is the same, be it Joplin 
or Jelly Roll, and started requesting that as a costume for gigs. And, 
a stereotype is born. 
 
  So, when a non-OKOM player (meaning, someone who is proficient and 
experienced in swing, bop, and beyond) suddenly gets the opportunistic 
notion to play "Dixieland" and gets the gig, they want garters, black 
pants/white shirt, bow tie. Would they wear a fez to play bop, like 
Diz? Shoot up, and get drunk, like Bird? Turn their back to the 
audience like Miles? I think not. 
 
  I absolutely hate the black/white/vest mentality. I do it, because I 
want the job. Anything I book myself will not be a black/white/vest 
thing, much less garters. Unless you're wearing stockings instead of 
pantyhose, but that's a different story. 
 
  Now, a nice Panama hat, well yeah, like Leon Redbone, that's a 
different story! But not with black pants/white shirt. 
 
 end of rant. 
 
 steve 
 
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