[Dixielandjazz] Can You Give Me Any Hope?

[Harry Callaghan]

Well said, Steve:

While I applaud your remarks as well as those that you have included here by
Ed Polcer, as I said here recently, and I know I have in the past on
Tradjazz, while the music is out there, it is an uphill battle because there
is so little exposure to it on commercial radio and national TV

When is the last time any of us saw any musical guest on Leno, Letterman,
Fallon or Kimmel (who are watched by millions nightly) that were playing
anything that could even be slightly regarded as OKOM.

Oh, there are possibly occasions when Paul Schaefer's CBS Orchestra might do
so, dependent upon a guest musician sitting in, but they play mainly for the
studio audience during commercial breaks.

At least in the old days of "The Tonight Show" when Carson was hosting, we
would sometimes get a complete number on camera when Doc Severinsen was
leading the band.

But, I have faith in you and others like you, striving to expose it to the
masses, along with your slightly risque Willie Nelson references.that I know
never fail to wow young damsels in the crowd..

Tides,
Harry


On 7/25/10, Stephen G Barbone <barbonestreet at earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> Bob Brodsky <rfoxbro at aol.com> wrote
>>
>> Dear Sports Fans:
>>
>> On my query about whether OKOM will die out after  the next 10-15 years go
>> by, I am afraid that I have to report negatively - at least in the USA. One
>> or two suggested that we could attract 'youngsters' by catering to their
>> dancing propensities. But no one gave me any real news about 'young' trad
>> bands. 37 younsters were reported at the Mammoth Jazz Camp,- a hopeful sign?
>>
>> However, the news from the UK and Ausrtalia was much more interesting.
>> There- they apparently do have young trad bands that are popular and
>> thriving.
>> I suspect that they were late comers in hot jazz appreciation and thus are
>> a generation or two behind us.
>>
>> I'd again like to hear from any of you in the US who can give hope.
>>
>
> Dear Bob & Listmates.
>
> There are all sorts of signs of hope out the for the future of OKOM in
> addition to that which we bands playing for kids at swing dances (there are
> lots of us) exhibit.
>
> There have also been several posts over the years about young bands, like
> Loose Marbles (who, I believe,  appeared at the Sacramento Jubilee this
> year).
> And Cangelosi Cards, Primate Fiasco, Baby Soda plus some other young bands
> that are working around the USA.
>
> There is also a very optimistic viewpoint about the Future of OKOM as the
> lead article in the July Issue of "The American Rag". By cornetist Ed Polcer
>  who at 70 plus, in addition to his own gigs, is busking around New York
> City with OKOM musicians 50 years his junior. Fans of Ed's may remember that
> he has performed at several Carnegie Halls concerts, Grace Kelly's wedding
> to Prince Ranier in Monaco, with Benny Goodman, The World's Greatest Jazz
> Band, for 5 US Presidents, at a command performance in 2001 for the King of
> Thailand, at the official opening of the Louis Armstrong House Museum in
> NYC, etc., etc., etc.
>
> In short, Ed is a working OKOM musician who walks the walk.
>
> The gist of Ed's several page article in the American Rag is this quote:
>
> "Jazz is not in trouble. Stop the hand wringing already. What's in trouble
> is THE WAY IT IS PRESENTED - either in concert form or in a restaurant where
> the audience is seated, passively eating a high caloric meal or drinking
> themselves into a false state of euphoria. Jazz was never meant to be
> chamber music to be enjoyed passively. . . . . . I'm busking in parks with a
> cadre of musicians in their 20s and 30s where folks of all ages lose their
> inhibitions and dance to our music. Plus there are dozens of clubs and bars
> in all five boroughs of this great city where jazz is presented every night
> and is being discovered, enjoyed and re-invented by the under 35s audience.
> So forget about sitting around in discussion groups. Get out there and enjoy
> the party."
>
> Those words ring true for me and my band here in the Philadelphia USA area.
> We play over 100 gigs a year for the under 35 audience, to rave reviews.
>  Yet we are an "old" band consisting of an 80 year old bassist, three guys
> over 70, one guy over 50, and a 32 year old female trombonist.
>
> Given the current age bias in the workplace, there is no place left in the
> USA that we oldsters could work, except in music.  And there is no better
> audience than the under 35s. <grin>
>
> Perhaps those worried about the future of jazz are also too passive? Don't
> get around much anymore? My advice, go out to the places where the under 35s
> hang. Hear Ed Polcer / Barbone Street / Baby Soda / Cangelosi Cards / Loose
> Marbles / Primate Fiasco and the other bands. Hear the young bands and/or
> hear the old guys who play for the under 35s. Support live jazz.
>
> And by all means, subscribe to The American Rag. Home page at:
>
> http://www.americanrag.com/         Click on "Subscription Information"
>
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone
>
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            - Finley Peter Dunne (1867-1936)