[Dixielandjazz] Songs we dislike was Wang Wang Blues

[Stephen G Barbone]

  "M J (Mike) Logsdon" <mjl at ix.netcom.com> wrote

In answer to Barbone  who posted a kick ass Marty Grosz version of  
Wang Wang Blues:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xCUVf1SE_4&feature=related


>>> Try this one Mike L. . . . Sweet!<<<



Indeed, Steve!  If I'd heard THAT before Whiteman's 1920 acidic  
treacle, I might have enjoyed it more over the years.  It's actually  
an okay tune, but since I seem to be the only person in DJML who  
thinks we should critique music in both direction, I every now and  
then need to document a tune I can't stand.  Remember years ago that  
list of tunes I can't stand?  That thread went on for weeks!


Dear Mike:

Indeed I do remember that thread. It was a long one proving that each  
of us has his own list of  tunes he or she dislikes. I was amazed at  
how many people dislike "Indiana" or "Lady Be Good". I also remember  
thinking that if an improvising musician did not like a tune, he/she  
could easily invent another one to play that uses the same chord  
changes.

eg. Don't like "indiana"? OK, then play Donna Lee by Miles Davis which  
uses the same changes. Same for all those tunes one can play using  
Bill Bailey changes if one hates Bill Bailey. Same for "Lady Be good".  
If a muso hates it, play Hackensack by T. Monk. Or, play your own tune  
over the changes and/or change the rhythm etc. Easy for a melodic  
improvisor to do.

Then again, a few years ago I had Randy Reinhart playing as a sub in  
my band on a gig my regular guy couldn't make. Always a believer that  
in a Dixieland Band, one should play tunes the trumpet/cornet likes to  
play, I asked before the gig:

"Randy, what tunes would you like to play? Which ones do you like."

He replied deadpan: "I hate them all."

He had just completed his CD with Kenny Davern, who often used the  
line; "I hate that tune" when sidemen would suggest a number.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband