[Dixielandjazz] "Jazz: The Smithsonian Anthology" reviewed

[Bill Haesler]

Dear Bob,
Thank you for that interesting and enlightening review.
But "No thank you" to the 'Anthology'. 
I will be saving my $99.98 pre-publication price for something more important.
Why?
For a start, refer to the full 6-CD track listing at:
   http://www.folkways.si.edu/jazz/
My immediate reaction was that the ten-year project has wasted the $500,000 provided by well-meaning foundations and private grants.
And what a sad waste of time and effort by the five-person executive committee and its contributing 'experts'.
Is this yet another version of the well-known definition of a camel? 
(A horse designed by a committee.)
Quote: "So many sets are the 'best of,'" Burgess says. "We want this set to be totally objective.
This is considered a collection across all genres, eras and labels."
So what went wrong? This has to be one of the worst 'best of' sets I have come across. 
"It took years to find the best recordings --"
Where were they looking, to come up with the inappropriate dartboard selection representing the first half century of jazz music?
A scatter-gun selection that runs out half-way through Disc 2 of the 6-CD, 111 track set.
I'm completely underwhelmed.
*>)
Very kind regards,
Bill.