[Dixielandjazz] Cartoon music

[Russ Guarino]

Re: Cartoon Music.....

The home office of Disney Studios was originally in Burbank, California, where I
grew up in the 40s - 50s.

The local adult musicians, including the studio musicians, used to meet once a week
and play as a community band.  My high school music teacher, Bob Rose, was a
clarinet player and played in the band & I was invited to also play.

The band leader was one of the Disney staff conductors.  He would bring music to
the band meeting, including cartoon band arrangements.

I found the music devilishly difficult to play.  It had abrupt tempo and style
changes with convoluted instrumentation mixing exotic rhythm instruments with
standard band instruments.

To me, "cartoon music" required a high level of skill and style capability, from
serious concert music to really silly "Spike Jones" stuff wrapped into 10-20 second
packages.

Fun to play but required highly proficient reading musicians. I don't think anyone
but studio quality musicians can play these band arrangements.

Russ Guarino
The clarinet maven

Ron L wrote:

> When we hear a band like the BHS and read appellations such as "Mickey
> Mouse" and "Cartoon Music",  I think we have to stop and ask ourselves why
> these fine musicians, and I think all will agree that they were playing
> their instruments well, soloing ably, etc, chose to play this music.  They
> are far removed geographically from its place of origin.  They are fairly
> far removed culturally, I think it is safe to say, and obviously, they are
> far removed from the music chronologically.   When I pondered these
> questions, I am drawn to a couple of conclusions.  One is that the music
> speaks to them (they like it) and we have no right to belittle or denigrate
> because our opinion is different.  The other conclusion that I reach is that
> the music has value in and of itself.  And again, we have no right to
> belittle it because of a difference of opinion.
>
> I personally found their sound delightful.  I was pleased with the execution
> and presentation of the material.  I would go to see/hear them if I could
> and know that I would enjoy myself immensely.
>
> Ron L
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
> [mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com] On Behalf Of Robert S.
> Ringwald
> Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2007 11:50 PM
> To: DJML
> Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Harlem Jazz? was Cartoon music of
> theBratislavaHot Serenaders
>
>  Steve Barbone wrote:
>
>  > "Robert S. Ringwald" <robert at ringwald.com>
> >
> >> Hey Bill,
> >>
> >> Please don't call it Cartoon Music.  It is great, Hot Harlem Jazz.
> >
> >
> > Hi Bob:
> >
> > Do you mean Haarlem as in The Netherlands?
>
> Of course not.
>
> > I can't recall any bands in
> > Harlem NYC playing as Mickey Mouse as that.
>
> 1.  I don't think you were in Harlem in the 20s.
>
> 2.  It was not at all mickey mouse.  It is something that the Night hawks
> would play as really Hot jazz.
>
> >
> > Seriously, though, the Bratislave musicians are excellent. The band is
> > well
> > arranged. BUT, Is it jazz?
> >
> > Guys like Eddie Condon would have said no and reminded us that jazz in the
> > 1920s/30s was popularly associated with Whiteman, Gershwin and Irving
> > Berlin. and that the Bratislava Band was playing popular music.
>
> As I said, they were playing the Hot Harlem Jazz of the late 20s and early
> 30s.
>
> >
> > Perhaps that kind of music in the "jazz age", as compared to the real jazz
> > of the originators, (Oliver, Bolden, Armstrong, Bechet et al) is more like
> > what Kenny G and his clones play today, compared to the real jazz of this
> > and/or any other era?
> >
>
> Sorry Steve, I have to respectfully say that you are all wet.
>
> --Bob Ringwald
>
> > Cheers,
> > Steve Barbone
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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> >
> >
>
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