[Dixielandjazz] Morton Program on BBC

[Dradjazz at aol.com]

In a message dated 2/22/11 8:28:57 AM, stevevoce at virginmedia.com writes:


> It's unusual for listeners to complain that there's too little recorded 
> music and too much live. The conversation with Philip Martin was not about 
> the "supposed" origins of Morton - it's there in the text of his LOC 
> recordings. I made my other sources clear and Philip's the world expert on 
> performing Gottschalk. It was intended to be thought provoking to try and 
> reconstruct the music Morton heard, as well as to follow this through to the band.
> 

Steve --

Thank you Steve for forwarding that from the producer, Alyn Shipton.   It 
seems that my post(s), in general, have not been read very carefully.   I 
hope you will forward my comments to the admirable Mr. Shipton (whom I've met 
at least once, Ascona 2003?).

I stated a personal opinion, from my perspective as a radio presenter of 
early jazz myself for nearly 30 years.   Yes, I had (and have) several 
criticisms of the production.   Some responses have asserted that I said there was 
too much talking, that was not my point at all.

I'm not saying it was a bad or poorly produced show, but I did say that I 
PERSONALLY found it unsatisfying for these reasons: 
a) that the huge emphasis on Morton's classical roots consisting of nearly 
1/3 of the program was, in my humble opinion, a poor choice (again, not a 
choice I would make unless that was the chosen and stated emphasis of a 
program or segment);   
b) not even a single clip of Morton is heard (I would have made a different 
choice) and;  
c) I'm not a big fan of programs that present only one band (a la Jim 
Cullum's Riverwalk) but I understand that may be the format of Discovering Music. 
  
The band did sound very good, no doubt about that.   

I will soon be posting to my website a program I produced many years ago 
exploring Morton, done on, I dare say, a much smaller budget for a much 
smaller audience.   In it I include Morton heard playing piano, piano rolls, 
leading some of his best bands and spoken clips from LOC;   several recent and 
not so recent interpreters of Morton's piano style (Paul Lingle, Don Ewell, 
Dick Hyman, Butch Thompson, etc);   recent Trad bands interpreting Jelly's 
repertory, including several exclusive live recordings of bands such as RSJO 
and South Frisco.   I also summarize Jelly's story in some detail, comment, 
and read short excerpts from Lomax's "Mr. Jelly..."

It is a different approach to presenting Morton (also nearly 4 hours in 
length).   I'm sure there will be some who find it a dissapointment in some 
way, or might present the subject matter differently.   They are welcome to 
listen, enjoy (or not) and criticise me if they wish.   If one does not wish to 
have their work commented upon constructively or otherwise, they best stay 
away from radio or podcasting.   

Perhaps we can   all welcome a lively discussion and difference of opinions 
and let a thousand Jelly Rolls bloom.

Best,

Dave Radlauer
www.JAZZHOTBigstep.com