[Dixielandjazz] Trad Jazz

[Marek Boym]

OK,
I've checked.  Bowden was with Barber in 1955 and 1956; je is on Bobby
Shaftoe, one of Barber's greatest hits.
Also, I believe that Bowden was with Barber in Caesarea (can't find
the Mississippi Rag issue in which the write-up of that festival
appeared).
Cheers

On 16 January 2011 19:44, John Petters <jdpetters at btinternet.com> wrote:
>
>
> On 16/01/2011 09:28, Marek Boym wrote:
>>>
>>> Oh dear, Marek!
>>> What are you not hearing in the Colyer band with Bowden, Duncan&
>>>  Wheeler?
>>
>> Soul?  Free wheeling?  It's difficult to put one's finger on it.  The
>> band just sounds as if it were holding back rather than letting itself
>> go.
>
> I'm puzzled by this Marek.
> I'm listening to this band with Geo. Lewis playing 'Weary Blues'. Despite
> doubling in tempo in the first chorus (it was too slow to start with) the
> band, driven by Colin, steams
>
>>> This was the closet British musicians got to NO Jazz at the time. Much of
>>> the success was due to Colin Bowden's powerful Baby Dodds influenced
>>> drumming.
>>
>> A wonderful drummer, Colin Bowden, but he has devekoped since then.
>> Or perhaps the band was trying to sound "New Orleans" so hard as to be
>> afraid to take freedoms and make mistakes.  Something that often
>> happens to bands playing tribute to Ellington.
>
> We must be listening to different recordings. These are not perfect
> recordings by any means, but with a great spirit. The Barber band sounds
> like a dance band with a banjo in comparison.
>
>>> As for the line up with Chris Barber, this to me has always sounded like
>>> jazz with the jazz taken out. It rhythmically goes nowhere.
>>
>> A matter of opinion.  But the first recordings with Colyer sound good to
>> me.
>
> I got into a spat on the Radio 3 message board following Chris' Jazz Library
> programme last year where said something along the lines that this was his
> favourite rhythm section. I can't remember the quote. Someone said that they
> thought he got close to the New Orleans feel. I disagreed. It is not only
> Chris - most of what we knew as British Trad was appallingly far of the mark
> rhythmically. Listen to any recording with Baby Dodds, Zutty, or Black Happy
> Goldston and then listen to a Barber record. The difference will leap out at
> you. Colyer and Bilk on the other got much closer. It wasn't the same - but
> closer.
> There is a very good video of the Barber band on YouTube swinging - but
> Colin is on drums.
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHUoShDkgbg&feature=related
>
> Compare that to the Barber band in '62 as was:
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_2eFnjwD0Q
>
>
>>> British trad spawned Euro Trad which was one more step removed from the
>>> source.
>
>> Is it wrong to be "removed from the source?"  I don't think so.
>> Actually, I am quite happy to hear musicians whose influences include
>> Barber, Colyer, etc.  Unless you want to copy, you must go your own
>> way.  And I do not mean going avant garde.
>>
>
>
> In my view, yes - if you are trying to create the feel of the music - but
> that is subjective. Every body copies to a certain extent - but surely it is
> better to copy a Bechet or an Armstrong than a Colyer or a Barber!
>
>
> --
> John Petters
> www.traditional-jazz.com
> Amateur Radio Station G3YPZ
>