[Dixielandjazz] Blanket Statements?

[Stan Brager]

There are many musicians who mentor younger players who are coming up.
That's been the tradition in jazz as long as there has been jazz.
Unfortunately, there haven't been any studies to determine whether or not
this tradition has declined for Dixieland or jazz as a whole. Regarding
Dixieland, there are fewer players today and even fewer younger musicians
seeking to learn this genre of jazz.

I doubt if any of us can state for certain whether or not this tradition is
in decline or not. In Southern California, mentors abound from George
Probert to Chet Jaeger and the other members of the Nightblooming Jazzmen,
Richard Simons and others in this community as well.

The problem is compounded by the fact that there are fewer venues where
Dixieland is played.

Perhaps Steve would like to create a registry for mentors and those seeking
to learn.

Stan
Stan Brager
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kay Spencer" <kay2840 at yahoo.com>
To: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2007 6:35 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Blanket Statements?


> Scott & Steve,
>
>   I would propose also John Soulis and Andy Parker who work with the
Jazzinators see:
>
>   http://home.wwdb.org/jssoulis/youthband.htm
>
>   John Soulis does a heck of a job getting jazz camp scholarship support
from the jazz clubs for his youth band.
>
>
>   We should also mention long time mentor Bill Armstrong who encouraged so
many fine musicians of my generation.  It is a whole lot easier recognizing
mentors when the "mentored" are ultimately recognized themselves and also
are involved with music on many levels, such as Howard Miyata.
>
>   Oh, and Dave Ruffner of Blue Street should not be an after-thought.
>
>   As for there being 10,000 OKOM musicians, that number seems way high to
me.  That number tells me that there should be at least 1000 in CA.  There
might be that many musicians but I don't think I would want number 999
mentoring my kid!  I would just as soon keep the mentoring to those who have
the ability and the enthusiasm to do it!
>
>   hopefully adding to the controversy...
>
>
>   Kay in Gilroy CA
>
>
> Steve Barbone <barbonestreet at earthlink.net> wrote:
>   Dear Scott:
>
> Kudos to those listed below. But that's 24 teachers, out of how many OKOM
> Musos? 10,000? That seems to me to be the very definition of damn few.
They,
> including you, should be proud to be part of the few.
> > Just a start for dedicated jazz camp teachers in no particular order:
> >
> > Katie Cavera - banjo/guitar
> > Clint Baker - almost anything
> > Hal Smith - drums
> > Bill Dendle - banjo/guitar
> > Rusty Stiers - trumpet
> > Anita Thomas - reeds
> > Ed Metz Jr. - drums
> > Jason Wanner - piano
> > Eddie Erickson - banjo
> > Westy Westenhofer - tuba and bass
> > Bria Skonberg - trumpet
> > Jackson Stock - trombone
> > George Probert - soprano sax
> > John Hall - drums
> > Marilyn Keller - vocal
> > Tom Jacobus - tuba
> > John Goodrich - reeds
> > Claire McKenna - clarinet
> > Dan Comins - cornet
> > Jim Buchmann - reeds
> > John Reynolds - banjo/guitar
> > Dick Maley - drums
> > Shelly Burns - vocals
> > me - banjo/guitar
> >
> > Not to mention the JazzSea Jammers, led by Dick Williams (who should
> > probably get a Nobel Prize for doing it), that gives adult players of
all
> > levels of ability a chance to play in front of an audience. They play
almost
> > as many sets on a typical JazzSea cruise as all the regular invited
bands on
> > the cruise put together, plus they are now playing sets at the San Diego
> > Thanksgiving Dixieland Jazz Festival.
> >
> > I think this is way more than "Damn few," thank you very much.
>
>