[Dixielandjazz] Miles Kington

[ROBERT R. CALDER]

In a recent post PJ Ladd notes that he went to a concert supposed to be in remembrance of  Miles Kington, well known writer and wit, inventor of etc.  etc. and gives an account of the first half and the lack of information generally (pathological introversion is a bloody nuisance on such occasions  --  Wasn't Mr. Kington a COMMUNICATOR?  And not given to repeating "yeah, man" and looking at the ceiling?) before he got fed up and went home. .
 
It seems rather odd that such a wit as MK was should have been decelebrated in such a way.  
Perheps ziss woss a suite designed to drematize (often pronounced trauma ties) ze barren essence of a Welt ohne Miles Kington   .(existential Mileskingtonlessness). as if the last echoes of his words et cetera could be drowned out and let slip down the plughole with a goodbye gurgle leaving no trace (or leaving bad taste?).
 
In fairness, and with reference to the schmutzige Kleider (clarty clobber, mawkit duds, filthy garments) of the muse irritation at the piano etc. during the deplorable event, one can spare a word of praise for Marsalis of the not always winning tone, who did say that it was high time jazz (etc.) musicians of whatever stripe developed some pride in appearance and dressed with the same concerns as the parents of the music. 
 
Presumably hygienic linen is maintained for health reasons by musical scruffians, and accidents occur when outward garb falls into the stuff to be washed (underwear, womens' wear, kiddieclothes). 
Al Grey once deplored the absence of a musician he expected on one of his British gigs,due to a gardening accident. "He's got no business working in the garden," Al exclaimed, "he's a professional musician!" 
I wonder what Al would have said if the mock-explanation was offered that the guy had nothing filthy enough to wear on a gig and was in the garden merely to get his working clothes decenty mussed and mired for a subsequent concert? And the only way his wife could get him to do any gardening was (to his fury) to wash the already perilously threadbare t-shirt and t-ornjeans? 
 
And of course the flatted fifth wasn't discovered or invented as late as the 1940s, it's just that a certain obsession developed then for the interval.
Filth dates from even earlier and seems more recently to have had an equal fascination in what had generally and hitherto been soapy quarters.  
 
God save Miles Kingtonism! 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I bet there was a grant somewhere along the line.

Cheers

Pat