[Dixielandjazz] Jazz: Smithsonian Anthology' reviewed

[Bill Haesler]

Dear Friends,
The DJML copy of my reply to Bob Ringwald (sent over 3 hours ago) seems to have disappeared into cyberspace.
Here it is again.
Regards,
Bill.

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.