[Dixielandjazz] Eddie Condon

[Stephen G Barbone]

Mike Logsdon wrote:

 >Considering how live jazz and the recording industry are two  
different animals, >why would anyone expect, or even want, a recording  
to be exactly like a live >event? I find the Condon Columbias, besides  
infinitely better than the rest of the >"Condon Mob" groups and  
albums, quite enjoyable, with no dissapointment >whatsoever. (I  
particularly enjoy the Epic "Midnight in Moscow.")

And well you should they are wonderful.

The Condon records I enjoy most are the Mosaic Reissues on CD. They  
are wonderfully recorded and probably digitally re-mastered.

BUT, I am still disappointed. Why? Because they don't hold a candle to  
what Condon put down live at his joint on West 3rd Street in Greenwich  
Village. If I had never seen Condon live so many times, I would not be  
disappointed either.

Kind of like not being disappointed in the Old King Oliver records  
when that was all we had to listen to. THEN, WOW, the Archeophone re- 
issues made all the previous King Oliver records (except the  
originals), trash.

I went to Condon's  for many years, starting when I was a junior in  
high school and saw Davison,  Brunies and Ed Hall together there, or  
some later sessions with Billy Butterfield and Cutty Cutshall, et al.  
These  performances, and others, were far more exciting than anything  
of theirs I've ever heard on record. And Butterfield who was noted for  
his wonderful tone and beautiful ballads, was also one of the hottest  
Dixieland players around NYC in those days.

It is only a personal opinion, but I'll take a live jazz recording,  
over a studio recording any day. But I'll also still wish I had been  
there to see it live, so I'd prefer a DVD. <grin>

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband