[Dixielandjazz] New Orleans Jazz without Louis

[Ken Mathieson]

Hi Steve et al,

Quite an astounding omission to be sure, but the rest of the article is full of incredible generalisations and sheer nonsensical assertions. 

For instance: "Traditional African music lacked harmony." For sure the traditional music of some parts of Africa uses fairly simple harmony and sometimes it's more implied than stated, but the traditional choral music of many other parts (e.g. South African choral music, Ethiopan religious music etc) uses three-part conventional-sounding voicings, sometimes based on pentatonic and other scale systems, but involving harmonic development.

And what about the assertion that "The first family of jazz is known to be the Marsalis men?"  Whatever happened to the Tios, Brouniouses, Barbarins, Cottrells etc? I'd also take issue with "Jazz musicians don't rely on arranged music."  Anyone who has listened to Jelly's piano solos and band recordings (especially the alternative takes) will quickly spot that they're very tightly arranged throughout. Without wanting to detract from the importance of improvisation, collective or solo, in any way, I reckon the timelessness of the Red Hot Peppers sides results in a large measure from the strong sense of form and structure, which derives from Jelly's arrangements.

It's good that jazz is being brought to the attention of US teenagers, but the teachers have a duty to be more accurate when they go into print. Their failure to do so only illustrates their own ignorance.

Cheers,

Ken Mathieson
www.classicjazzorchestra.org.uk