[Dixielandjazz] Harlem Jazz? was Cartoon music of the Bratislava Hot Serenaders

[John Farrell]

No apologies for repeating (below) Jerry Brown's response to Mr. Barbone's asinine assessment of the Bratislava Hot Serenaders' music. Jerry is right on the money - without any shadow of doubt the superb BHS is one of the best bands of its type on the planet, the music they play is out-and-out hot, exciting jazz and to question that fact demonstrates a complete lack of knowledge of this kind of thing. 
   
  Mr. Barbone should stick to throwing his beads around.
   
  I've said it before - cartoon music? Phooey!!
   
  John Farrell

Jerry Brown <jazzjerry at btinternet.com> wrote:
  Hi Steve,

Thou doest utter from the wrong place. As probably one
of the few DJMLers to have seen the Bratislava Hot
Serenaders live (Whitley Bay JF last year) I can say
that they are one of the best bands in their
particular field.

To suggest that what they play is not jazz is complete
nonsense. During the course of their performances they
play plenty of Dule Ellington material and similar
arrangements with improvised solos from individual
band members. Yes they also play 'popular' and 'dance'
music of the period but with a jazz feel but so did
the originators. I'm sure the King Oliver Creole Jazz
band played waltzs for the dancers although maybe they
did not record them. Certainly the ODJB did record
waltzs and we know their biggest success in the UK was
the appearances at the Hammersmith Palais, one of the
biggest dance halls in London.

You have achieved a landmark in the DJML annals in
companing Duke Ellington's music with that of Kenny G.
Wow!

Maybe it is not the kind of freewheeling music as
expertly played by Eddie Condon and his associates
(and attempted by your band) but neither was the music
of Jelly Roll Morton's RHP, King Oliver's CJB,
Fletcher Henderson and most other bands of the
originating period of jazz. 

I have been very quiet since returning to the DJML but
really could not these ridiculous remarks go
unchallenged.

Cheers,

Jerry
Norwich
U.K.