[Dixielandjazz] West End Blues

[Steve Barbone]

on 9/12/07 3:00 PM, dixielandjazz-request at ml.islandnet.com at
dixielandjazz-request at ml.islandnet.com wrote:

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> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:55:54 -0500
> From: "Don Mopsick" <mophandl at landing.com> wrote (polite snip)

About an article saying the cadenza to West End Blues is more classical than
jazz:

>>> The article then talks about the cadenza from West End Blues. In the
>>> writer's opinion, by itself, the cadenza is more a display of classical
>>> virtuosity than jazz. It is only when the rest of the jazz tune is added
>>> that the cadenza could then be classified as jazz.
 
> The person who wrote this has trouble hearing the quality of swing rhythm,
> which is what distinguishes jazz from classical. Most jazz fans agree that
> both Louis and Oliver swing the crap out of this intro, even though it is
> out of tempo. 

Below is what Gunther Schuller said about the cadenza:

Gunther Schuller's Comment on Louis' introduction to West End Blues from
EARLY JAZZ: ITS ROOTS AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT, (Oxford University Press,
1986). Page 116: 

"Louis' s West End Blues introduction consists of only two phrases. As has
already been intimated, these two phrases alone almost summarize Louis's
entire style and his contribution to jazz language. The first phrase
startles us with the powerful thrust and punch of its first four notes. We
are immediately aware of their terrific swing, despite the fact that these
four notes occur on the beat, that is, are not syncopated, and no rhythmic
frame of reference is set (the solo being unaccompanied). These four notes
should be heard by all people who do not understand the difference between
jazz and other music, or those who question the uniqueness of the element of
swing. These notes as played by Louis - not as they appear in notation - are
as instructive a lesson in what constitutes swing as jazz has to offer. The
way Louis attacks each note, the quality and exact duration of each pitch,
the manner in which he releases the note, and the subsequent split second
silence before the next note - in other words, the entire acoustical pattern
- present in capsule form all the essential characteristics of jazz
inflection." 

Cheers,
Steve Barbone

PS. I've never heard Oliver's cadenza. Is it anywhere near as fantastic as
what Louis did?