[Dixielandjazz] ODJB - again

[John Petters]

Marek Boym wrote:
> Gee, your programme has brought back memories!
> In his ""The Best of Jazz," Humph refers to the ODJB as "a band so low
> on creativity and inspiration."  Moreover, he says, "When, in 1963,
> they came together...it was as if they had been pickled in soundproof
> aspic during the intervening years. 'Tiger Rag' had lost some of the
> explosive vigour ..., and had gained nothing."
> That last remark sent my frineds Zvi znd Donna and me back to the old
> records.  We listened repeatedly to the early ODJB's "Tiger Rag" on
> RCA and the British Columbia, to the New Orleans Rhythm Kings'
> version, and the 1936 recordings.  Our conclusion was quite different
> than Humph's.  While the reincarnated ODJB might have deliberately
> aimed at achieving the "old" sound, it neverhteless sounded quite
> different, probably because of Eddie Edwards' and Tony Spargo's
> experience in the intervening period.  If you listen carefully, you'll
> find that on both the combo and the bib band recordings the rhythm is
> much more flexible, "swinging," than on the older recordings.
> In any event, we lo9ved all of them, Humph or no Humph (if anybody
> wonders, "Humph" is Humphrey Lyttelton, the dean of British
> cornet/trumpet players, whose early recordings I consider among "the
> best of jazz," right after the Hot Fives and Sevens, The Hot Peppers
> and the Goodman combos).
Hi Marek,
Sorry for the delay in replying. Its been very busy here.
Humph is someone I respect but in my view he is wrong about the ODJB. 
Certainly by the 1936 recordings the band sounds looser. You would 
expect that. But even the old records sound fine to my ears and much 
jazzier than say the Wolverines. Take Bix out of that band and is is 
nowhere.
I agree with you about Humph's own recordings - they stand up very well.
Cheers

-- 
John Petters
www.traditional-jazz.com
Amateur Radio Station G3YPZ