[Dixielandjazz] Marsalis - Dead man blues

[Anton Crouch]

Hello all

Those dismissing Wynton Marsalis as a "clown" are missing something, and 
should go back to Jelly Roll Morton in 1926. Ask the question "is 
Marsalis giving us a 'homage' or is he re-interpreting the composition?"

I go for the re-interpretation view. That said, does it succeed?

I say "no", for the following reasons:

1. Marsalis plays-down the chorus of the 3 clarinets. Morton's genius 
lies in giving us schmalz and swing at the same time. In Marsalis' 
performance the clarinets don't swing.

2. Marsalis' trumpet antics are in accord with Morton's identification 
of the hocum aspects of jazz, but Marsalis gives us virtuosity instead 
of hocum.

Separately, there is a musicological issue in Marsalis' performance. He 
uses two trumpets, thus, almost certainly ignorantly, re-enforcing the 
old furphy of two cornets playing at Morton's recording session of 21 
September 1926.

Also, some questions for trumpet players - is Marsalis' mouthpiece 
fixed, or can it be removed?; what is the coating on the brass of the 
trumpet.

All the best,
Anton