[Dixielandjazz] From a semi-lurker

[Steve Heist]

Hi all,

You know, I posted the notice about the Montreal Jazz Festival up here in 
Montreal, because although it, for the most part, is a more modern jazz 
festival (and by the way, the world's largest jazz festival), that many 
might like to listen to and/or expand their interest in the music.

I have always felt it doesn't hurt to listen to something new (unless it's 
at a painful volume - ha ha)

I remember when I was young and just starting out in trad jazz, how we used 
to take "modern" songs - Hello Dolly, Alley Cat, Washington Square, Bonnie 
and Clyde, (remember that from the 60's???) etc. etc. and "make them our 
own" and make some really incredible arrangements out of them.  Even now, I 
have found a wealth of modern songs of THIS era - and turned them into GREAT 
dixieland pieces.

Currently, the one I'm working on, is very exciting and I'd like to turn 
some of the band leaders on to the song, "Woke Up This Morning",  by a group 
(I believe) is called Alabama 3...  To those immediately unknowing of this 
song, it is the theme song of The Sopranos!!!
(Woke up this morning, got myself a gun, Mama always said I'd be the, chosen 
one...)
If you get a chance listen to it and I think you'll see it has a lot going 
on in it - chord structure is simplistic to the max - as I've been listening 
to it, it just seems to go back and forth from the minor to the 7th (Dm to 
A7, over and over)  This kind of simplistic chord flow is great to improvise 
on...  I would really love to hear a jazz band work this one up!  First, 
it's VERY recognizable and I think would appeal to all ages.  Anyway, feel 
free to work it up and, as always,
ALL the Best,
Steve "Stubby" Heist

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Smith" <robert.smith at tele2.no>
To: "Steve Heist" <steveheist at earthlink.net>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 4:29 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] From a semi-lurker


> At Ginny's request I'm going to offer an opinion on MKOM. I'm not often 
> stinulated to offer a musical opinion because I don't feel that I have the 
> necessary knowledge or anything new on my favourite records. However, I've 
> just received a CD by a female vocalist who calls herself Judy D. In my 
> opinion she carries on the tradition of Sarah, Billie , and Ella, 
> especially Ella. If these singers are YKOM, then I strongly urge you to 
> buy this CD (available on CDBaby where you can hear snippets). It's worth 
> the money just for her rendition of "All Of Me". Her vocalising on this 
> track is in the best Ella tradition.