[Dixielandjazz] What is Jazz?

[Marek Boym]

I must agree with Phil.
As to improvisation, if we believe the jazz historians, it was
originally called "faking," because the New Orleans musicians, many of
whom could not read music, had "to fake."  Later it became the
foundation of jazz, but its beginnings were humble.
And I've read complaints about Bill Allred's playing being
"uninteresting."  When I enquired how that could be, the answer was
that  "melody" was not recognizable at all times.
Cheers

On 11/09/2007, philwilking <philwilking at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> Ah well, each of us has his preferences, but it seems to me we don't
> disagree by much.
>
> I prefer that when someone announces a title I recognize, he plays it
> recognizably at least once ("using the song as a starting off point"). This
> does not mean I want him to play ten choruses all alike, only that when he
> starts to "improvise," that his variations on the theme do not lose all
> contact with said theme. That is what I dislike about so much "modern"
> stuff, it sounds to me as though the player is having a bad LSD flashback
> ("Like wow man, the notes smell purple!") and has not only laid the tune
> aside (if he ever played it at all), but has completely forgotten where he
> left it.
>
> I suspect I am not unique.
>
> PHIL WILKING
>
> Those who would exchange freedom for
> security deserve neither freedom nor security.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Robert S. Ringwald" <robert at ringwald.com>
> >>
> >> May I suggest  If the number does not a melody which can be whistled or
> >> hummed, it is not jazz.
> >
> > I have to strongly disagree with your statement.
> >
> > This means that a musicians is not necessarily playing the song as
> > written. He is taking liberties with it, using the song as a starting off
> > point and then creating something from that.
> >
>
>
>
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