[Dixielandjazz] Woody Allen - Part Two

[Stephen G Barbone]

The problem with trying to fit ones personal views about the audience,  
when most of us have no idea what the audience likes or dislikes and  
cannot therefore speak for that audience, is that we speak only for on  
e person, ourselves. That's OK with me. But then if we didn't want to  
hear bad musicians playing OKOM, we'd have to not listen to at least  
half the bands out there trying to play it.

Obviously Woody Allen is aware that he is not a top tier jazz  
musician. He freely admits it. There is no basis whatever to say that  
he is trying to hide anything. As opinion that's fine, but it is  
totally unsupported by anything, anywhere.

Sorry but that's the way it is. The man has done more for OKOM jazz  
then any of us and if that's what galls anyone, so be it.

Once again, I suggest folks read and understand the entire article  
instead of ranting and being elitist about ear.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband

On Jun 4, 2010, at 4:32 PM, JBruno868 at aol.com wrote:

>
>
> In a message dated 6/4/2010 1:19:41 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, barbonestreet at earthlink.net 
>  writes:
> I would opine
> that Woody Allen has done so much for the genre of traditional jazz,
> that we should have no problem thanking him by spending a paltry $100
> to see him.
>
> Sorry but I still and always will disagree on that. I feel sorry for  
> any new Jazz enthusiast who came to hear him and walked away with a  
> shaking head and would never again try to enjoy OKOM because of how  
> bad the clarinets squeaking and squawking was. I left during the 3  
> rd tune as it hurt not only my sensitivity to OKOM but my ears.
>
> It doesn't help us at all to have bad musicians playing OKOM and  
> then expect to get a whole new generation of fans. Sorry but again I  
> disagree on this one. For those who just wanted to see Woody Allen,  
> fine, but many of us are not impressed by celebrities especially to  
> the level of a headache. I enjoyed his movies much more and did not  
> want to see him in person in this way. I also did a lot of bit parts  
> and extra work over the years and met many celebrities and good  
> actors. Seeing Woody Allen did nothing for me as I was not impressed  
> at all even though I tried my best to ignore his playing and enjoy  
> those good musicians in the band. A couple I knew and had heard  
> before at Jazz Festivals or gigs. If he thinks as he seems, that  
> surrounding himself with good musicians will hid how bad he is, he's  
> very wrong to those of us who have an ear for OKOM
>
> Jazz Hugs
>
> Judie
>
>