[Dixielandjazz] speaking of vernacular

Thu Jun 12 20:18:55 PDT 2008

If you want to stick to the straight definition and historical significance 
of "swing" then you are 100% right but at the same time you are 100% wrong.

Please step into the language and world of jazz.

Jazz musicians for as long as I remember have used the words "to swing" or 
"he swings" as meaning a good competent musician who is in the know and 
understands jazz and this is applied to other types of musicians who aren't 
necessarily jazz musicians such as some rock or blues musicians.  The 
expression "he's a swinger" doesn't necessarily mean that he has group sex 
with other couples either although taken literally it could mean that.  When 
a jazz musician says "he cooks" doesn't mean he's a master chef or works at 
McDonalds either.

I know of no other expression that musicians use that denotes the same thing 
or is used in the same way.

I do realize that there are expressions that mean one thing in one area but 
not another.  I'm pretty sure it's used this way in big cities but may not 
be true elsewhere.

I was interested in the origin of the word Axe.  As in bring your Axe. 
Another universal is the word horn.  Bring your horn is not an invitation to 
French or English horn players only but includes drummers and others too. 
It's sort of a musical short hand or slang that musicians use and none of it 
can be interpreted literally because on the good side it makes no sense and 
on the bad side can give you the exact wrong meaning.

The worst cut a jazz musician can use is that someone doesn't swing.  Ya 
Dig? (oops, sorry, I'll have everyone reaching for a shovel if I'm not 
careful)
Larry
StL
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "eupher dude" <eupher61 at hotmail.com>
To: "Larry Walton" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 3:59 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] speaking of vernacular

Time to get really nitpicky...

I don't want to "swing" when playing OKOM.  I want to drive, stomp, shuffle, 
but not swing.

Swing, to me, is a later style of jazz with a slightly different vocabulary 
and a totally different feel.  Different instruments in some cases, 
certainly a different approach to the instruments.

Like I said, nitpicky.  But I can do that if I want.

nyah...

steve "or I'll just go home" hoog

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