[Dixielandjazz] EXCERPTS FROM MAY 2011 BLUE NOTE

Sat Jun 4 14:56:46 PDT 2011

THE 'BLUE NOTE' is the 'voice OF THE SOUTH BAY NEW ORLEANS JAZZ CLUB- 

SBNOJC meets 2nd Sunday Monthly 1:00 to 5:00 P.M. Knights of Columbus Hall 

214 Avenue “I”, Redondo Beach, Ca 90277    - 310 397 6616

                              OKOM FANS:  
HERE ARE EXCERPTS FROMTHE JUNE, 2011 "BLUE NOTE"

- THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE SOUTH BAY NEW ORLEANS JAZZ CLUB - REDONDO BEACH

PROGRAM

JUNE 12, 2011
ALAN SHELTON'S    ROYALE  GARDEN DIXIELAND  BAND

JULY 10
JAZZ HOLIDAY BAND
        SARDO'S

AUGUST 14
THE PRESIDENT'S JAZZ BAND

                          ROYALE GARDEN DIXIELAND BAND FEATURED IN JUNE 2011

                       Founded in 1997, the band plays traditional Jazz tunes of the
                       jazz era. The band plays frequently in the Los Angeles area and
                      is one of the representative bands of SPDJ. Led by cornet
                      player, Alan Shelton, the band plays music that dates back to the
                     1890’s and some as recentthe 1980’s. Stop by and hear this
                      entertaining band. (Yeah!)

MAY 2011  FEATURE BAND 
 RICHARD SIMON - JAZZAMERICA

Richard Simon and the staff of JazzAmerica, again, performed a wonderful Mother’s Day concert for our club. This group is made up of young music talent from all over the southland. Eachyear they bring fresh exciting new young talent. This year included:vocalist - Darynn Dean, pianist- Jamal Dana (he and Darynn arecousins), trombonists Rick Lucchese and Abdullah. All of theseyoung standoutsare supercallifragilistic good . Darynn sang one of the best verions of ‘Deed I Do' that I have ever heard. Her cousin, Jamal is TWELVE YEARS OLD and plays piano like Fats Waller. They were all great - Richardpicked a teriffictune menu, Thanx!!

                                                                              MUSICIANS MAY 2011

SBNOJC was fortunate to have the following musicians in May:BobAllen, Barry Anthony, Larry Cosgrove, Pete Dawson, BobDownum, Paul Goldman, Bert Grant, Jimmy Green, Judi Haase, PeteKier, Tom Man, Gene Marklevitz, Bill Mitchell, John Norton, Roberto Pasquariello, Jerry Rothschild, Luis Schellaci, Mike Stubbs,Richard Tucker, Ed Weiss, Kermit Welch, Bob White,

SAME SONG,SECOND VERSE -- 

                                                                      SPONSOR A BAND
We are alwayslooking for waysto make yourclub more profitable. One way is to help sponsor one of the feature bands that are scheduled at SBNOJC during the year. Sponsorshipshelp offset some of the expenses of bringing quality bands to SBNOJC. Your sponsorship will contribute to the successof the club and you may enjoy a tax deduction at the same time.

For a sponsorship of $25, $50, $75 or $100, you will receive recognition in the BlueNote as a band sponsorand be mentioned as a featureband sponsor at the sessionthat the band appears.Judi Haase is a sponsor of the Night Blooming Jazzmen.

Help plan for the Club's 50th anniversary! Anita Gold, SBNOJC Treasurer, is spearheadingour 50th event and could use some ideas and help with the planning andexecution of the anniversary. If you areinterested in helping, contact Anita at 949-770-4690. Help make it a greatcelebration.

Paul Goldman– President SBNOJC
 goldperson51 at yahoo.com

OKOM-DEFINED -- A REBUTTAL
by Larry Wright

I will be respondingto Mr. Brodsky's article that appeared in theMay, 2011 issue of the Blue Note.  Now,I have a problem with trying to define OKOM (Our Kind Of Music) by the bands,instruments, and styles as the author has.  Thereis a Spirit involved that pervades the music of the 1920s, 1930s and yes, even later. This should be the defining aspect to OKOM, and what separates  it from other music.

There is a YouTubevideo of a talentedkid playing a traditional Japanese string instrument along with the Bix recording of "Sorry."He nails the notes of every instrument as they come up. But more thancopying, he obviouslyhas a jazz feeling, or "spirit" of whatthe originators were doing. And it is very successful (except to hidebound purists).  Bottom line -- it doesn't matter whatinstrument is being played, in what combination, by what race, in what style -- as Ellington would say, "If it Ain't Got That Swing, It Don't Mean a Thing."

That doesn't mean that any combination of instruments would beequally adept at playing the required ensembleparts -- obviously, a tuba isn't going to play a clarinet part without some inherent problems. But by intimatingthat an OKOM band MUSTuse certain instruments, the author misses the point entirely.  He specifically singles out the saxophone, and then backpedals regarding SydneyBechet. I must remind him that one of the most exciting players in Jelly RollMorton's classic band was Stump Evans, a very overlooked alto player. And I shouldremind him that "probably the greatest band of all time," (his words) King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, used a bass sax in recordings! ("SouthernStomps," "Mabel's Dream").  It can't be both ways for "the dreaded honking saxophone," (his words again), eh?

Another issue is that the author equates mainstream jazz witha modern version of small band swing. I would point outthat mainstream jazz is based on bebop, and that its primary force, Charlie Parker, developed his style to specifically getawayfrom the arpeggio-based playing so common to swing! In other words, swing ain't mainstream jazz 

The comment that none of the so-called "OKOM"instruments should be attached to an amplifier by an electriccordneeds exploring. An amplifiersimply amplifies sounds-- makes them louder. True, in their classicform, all theinstruments aren't connected by a wire. But they almostalways depend on microphones these days to be heard bylarge crowds. So is the concern about the means that an instrument is amplified, or the amplification itself? A! confusing remark atbest. And, I must point out that most of us listen to reissued 78s via...that's right, electric amplification .

The author's definitionof what the tromboneand clarinet duties are is woefullyignorant. Granted,this ignorance isshared by many hobbyists currently playing today. But they both have clearly defined parts to play to obtain optimum adlibensemble success. Withoutgetting too technical, thetrombone has its roots in the marching bands. It is supposed to play what is termed a "tenor line." Essentially, that is a counterpoint to the melody that leads, or pushes, the ensemble into the next chord.! The clarinet is not supposed to "noodle around," (his words) although, sadly, this iswhat the vast majority of weekend warriors end up doing. Agood clarinet line covers the important harmonies to themelody, interspersed with just enough ornamentation to addvariety and flavor

Naturally,  there are  many exceptions  to  this ensemble approach, but their success depends on brilliance and talent tobeable to get the overall effect with alternative instruments.! It is much more difficult this way,  but can be done.!  Good players appear to be doing effortlessly!what the author has misinterpreted (among many  more misstatements which  I won't addresshere)
.
I say, OKOM is a feeling,a state-of-mind pertainingto music.! Itmeans OUR KINDof music.! If ourpeople dig someoneplaying "Jazz Me Blues" on a pipe organ, then it's OKOM. If a clarinet players wings a Beatlestune and folkslikeit --  again, it's Our Kind of Music.! By limiting a definition, as the author does, it fosters an US vs.THEM! mentality andcloses minds to the possibilities of a living, changing art  form.

However, in fairness,      at the end of his article the author      "grudgingly" acknowledges that a purist can enjoy non-pure allowances. He calls the whistles"corny," and yet Jelly's Red Hot Peppers didexactly the samething with horns and whistles ("Sidewalk Blues").! Then the author proclaims, "Yes, they're all OKOM!" Well, what was the point of this articlethe point of this article?   All I can say is, someone owes meforhaving to write a rebuttalfor no good reason    .

 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President                Paul Goldman               310 293 2910
& Blue Note Assist.           goldperson51 at yahoo.com
Vice President       Jerry Goodman               310 320 0009
Treasurer                Anita Gold               949 770 4690
Secretary                Bob Brodsky               310 937 1811
& Historian          rfoxbro at aol.com
Blue Note Editor               Pete Kier             310 397 6616
& Music Director    petekier at aol.com

Assist. Music Dir.

Earl Newton

310 829 9789

General Consultant

Bob Allen

323 291 5686

Publicity & Promo

Bob White

310 376 2591

Raffle Tickets

Yvonne Mitchell

714 528 1534

Snack Table

Polly Goodman

310 320 0009

(Past President)

Larry Cosgrove

310 645 9361

Raffle Prizes

Ann Norton

310 831 3525

                                                    WHO IS PLAYING WHERE
AMERICAN LEGION HALL, 9535 California  Ave, Southgate
Jazz Revival Workshop,  Thursdays,7:30 pm to10:30 pm -
323291 5686  - jazzrevivalworkshop.com
AUTOMOBILE  DRIVING MUSEUM, THE , 610 LairportSt. El Segundo, CA
Beach Cities  Swing Band  3rd Sunday 7 -to 9 :30 pm- 310 909 0950
CASEY'S TAVERN, 22029 ShermanWay, Canoga Park - 818  992 9362
Blue Lagoon Band -Lloyd Herbert , Thursdays, 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm
Evie & All That Jazz,Saturdays, 9.00 pm  to 1 :00 am
Jelly Roll Jazz Band -Woody James - Sundays, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
CURLEY'S, 1999 Willow,Signal Hill - 562 424 0018
CJ & Katie, every Wednesday5:45 pm to 7:45 pm
CJ’s Cherry  Willow Jazz Band,   Fridays 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Curley”s  Monday Session,Monday’s 6:30 pm to 9:00pm
DELUCA’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT  - call for reservation
225 Richmond Street, El Segundo, CA - 310 640 7600
Southbay Swing - Friday & Saturday Nights 6:30 to 9:30 pm
ELPATIO RESTAURANT, La Palma Ave,Buena Park, west ofEuclidbetween 5 and 91 freeways
Wayne Schmuss,Auntie  Skinner’s  Lucky Winners Jazz Band,
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm 1st & 3rd Mondays,
John Hockins’  Revelation Jazz Band  - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
2nd and 4th Mondays
GARDENA MOOSE LODGE,15509 S.Vermont, Gardena - 310 324 7027
Walt Kronberger’s Big Band,Dancing, Thursdays 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
LEISURE  WORLD, 13533 Seal Beach Blvd.Club house No. 4, Seal Beach
Leisure  World Dixieland Jazz Club Concerts -  1st Wed.
6:30 pm - 8:15 pm 562 799 9934 www. DIXIELANDJAZZCLUB.COM
MONTROSE  FARMER’S MARKET,  Honolulu Ave. & Oceanview, Montrose,CA 90740 traditional New Orleans jazz - tel. 909 621 1439
Gremoli  - Jim Leigh - Most Sundays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

SARDO’S, 259 No. Pass Ave., Burbank - 310 397 6616
Jazz Holiday - Pete Kier, Tuesdays& Thursdays noon to 1:00 pm
Sweeny
STEAMERS, 138 W. Commonwealth,Fullerton - 714 871 8800
Golden Eagle Jazz Band,  someSundays - music from 1 pm to 4 pm
Dixiedelics   Jazz Band  alternate Sundays with Golden Eagles