[Dixielandjazz] George Wein on Jazz

[Stephen G Barbone]

 From a 1956 George Wein interview on jazz:

“Why is Louis Armstrong successful today?  Because he is a great  
entertainer.  Not because he is a great jazz figure.  He is not  
playing now with one-tenth of the potential that he had when he made  
those Hot Five and Hot Seven records.”

Wein said it was the fault of the public that such successful jazz  
musicians as Mr. Armstrong and Mr. (Dizzy) Gillespie tended to play at  
a level that was below their real capability.  It was also the fault  
of the public, he said, that new jazz groups looked for “a gimmick, a  
new sound, a new approach” instead of “great music.”  The public will  
only accept “gimmicks,” he said, not good music.  “You must go hear  
what the musician is trying to play,” he urged, “not what you want to  
hear.”

For what Wein has to say about Jazz currently, see:

http://thegig.typepad.com/blog/2010/07/george-wein-on-the-airwaves.html

Then click on the blue box "George Wein Interview (Jazz on 3)



Cheers,

Steve Barbone

www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband