[Dixielandjazz] FW: Al Hirt

[Jim Kashishian]

Bill Powers wrote:
> Al Hirt was my favorite Dixieland Jazz Trumpeter. I don't 
> recall any references to him on DJML.  

  
Bob Ringwald answered:
>Some folks think he played too many notes. I personally think he was a
fantastic musician, with fantastic technique.  

And, I add:

Al Hirt seems to fall into the same group as The Dukes and the FH5 by being
disliked by many people, and that has been discussed on this list.  

I never understood why.  The too many notes thing?  Who cares?  What
notes...what great notes! If you play a brass instrument, you gotta admire
the guy!! 

Not everybody hears jazz in a "fewer notes is better" Basie way.  Al Hirt
had some great bands, and at least some great recordings.  Sure, he did some
commercial things, also, but that doesn't eliminate him from the "greats"
list.  As Bob said, I loved his playing.  

I always felt he completely dominated his trumpet, a point not easy to
achieve.  He was larger than the horn itself, and I'm not referring to his
girth!

Jim