[Dixielandjazz] Al Hirt

[Robert Ringwald]

I normally hate it when someone posts a message to DJML and just says, "I 
agree."

But with this post from Jim Kash, I can not add anything to it.  All I can 
say is "I agree."

I guess I can add something.

It seems to me that when a musician has total control of his instrument, is 
a beautiful player, someone always wants to put him down because he isn't 
limited by lack of technique as so many of the older Trad musicians were.

I don't mean to put them down as they were the pioneers of Jazz.  Just as no 
one thought that the 4-minute mile would be broken, and of course it was, 
the musicians coming along have the benefit of the musicians that came 
before.

In my book, there is room for everyone.  Al Hirt was a great player.

--Bob Ringwald


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Kashishian" <jim at kashprod.com>
To: "Bob Ringwald" <rsr at ringwald.com>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Friday, May 15, 2009 2:07 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Al Hirt


>
> I never heard any pros or cons about Al Hirt, as he is not at all known in
> Europe, at least not in Spain.  These arguments only came to light once I
> joined DJML.
>
> I first heard his Audio Fidelity recordings, and another yellow covered 
> one
> with Pete fountain & Bob Havens in the late 50's/early '60's.
>
> Maybe you have to be a brass man to experience the shock of "what on earth
> is this guy capable of?".  His bands swung/swing, they played Dixieland
> tunes in the Dixieland style, and this trumpeter could do whatever he 
> wanted
> to do with his horn.  Where's the wrong?  He must have been a good leader,
> as he attracted the best of the best to his bands.
>
> If you're a player, and have felt the restrictions placed on your own 
> music
> by your own particular level of talent & technique, then hearing a man who
> apparently had total dominance over his horn is just amazing.
>
> If I had to draw a cartoon of Hirt, I would draw a large man with a tiny
> little horn in his hands. He was so much larger than the horn.
>
> Jim
>
>
>
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