[Dixielandjazz] smooth jazz discussion-- more from Howard Mandel

[Jack Mitchell]

Vinny wrote:

" The element of swing in the strict sense is absent.
> There isn't much improvisation in fact I'd say Chicago blues (Buddy Guy 
> for
> example) has more improvisation. "

That raises an important point. Jazz has got to swing. The opinion today 
amongst newer musicians and journalists is that improvisation is the be all 
and end all of jazz. It ain't  Jelly Roll told his musicians just to play 
what he wrote. The greatest improviser of them all, Louis Armstrong,  said 
if he played something that he thinks is right he'd keep playing it that 
way. There are oodles of CDs out there today where the musicians are 
improvising madly on their own tunes (hardly a melody line in sight) but 
they don't swing. They, and their record companies market it as jazz. 
Bugrum.

Best wishes
Jack Mitchell