[Dixielandjazz] Italians in Jazz - And Musicians who read/improvise

[Stephen G Barbone]

Ms. Fox has located the Berendt  quote about Italian Americans in  
Jazz.  " No other European country was the ancestral origin of as many  
significant American jazz musicians as Italy." It is from:

Berendt, Joachim-Ernst.  Translated by Willim Odem. Jazz: A Photo  
History. New York: Shirmer Books, c. 1979.  (p. 341)

Regarding musicians who read and improvise, and which is better. I  
think it depends upon the musicians. The Marty Grosz Hot Winds  
performance yesterday was a mixture of reading Marty's charts and  
improvisation. It you closed your eyes and listened, it made no  
difference whether they were reading or improvising. They were reading  
the duet and/or ensemble parts. These would be typical structured  
parts like the A strain to Fidgety Feet or Tiger Rag etc. The solos  
were improv. The concert was one of the best, if not the best musical  
programs of the Tri State Jazz Society's  (PA/ NJ/ DE) Current season.

These are jazz musicians at the top of their game. Doesn't make a damn  
bit of difference whether they are reading or improvising since they  
do both well. Either way it is incredible musically and has plenty of  
heat. Same for Bill Sargent Bands and same for Ed Metz's Bobcat Band.  
Great musicians all.

The top guys in jazz today got there because they do it all.

Even Buddy Rich, who did not read, or did not read much, <grin> was a  
bug about readers in his band and opined that how else would you know  
what the arranger intended if you couldn't read the chart? How would  
you get inside the music?

I think he believed that the guys who couldn't read, but were still  
great (e.g. Bechet or himself who might hear a piece one time and then  
have their part down pat) were exceptions and damn few with their  
natural ability and incredible ears are on the music scene in any era.  
I think he also believed that arrangers should not score the drum  
parts. An exception to his own "general" rule, but then he was very  
different from the rest of us. <grin>

Cheers,
Steve Barbone