[Dixielandjazz] Cotton Club Parade - Reviewed

[Stephen G Barbone]

Hi Ginny:

By way of Stephen Holden's defense:

Yes there are other musicians of sufficient caliber that could do it.

However, I think what Holden means is that the bands that usually play  
broadway shows, while quite expert, are not of the jazz caliber of the  
Lincoln Center Jazz Band. The show bands are usually pickup groups of  
available musicians. I think Holden is saying that there are not many  
existing orchestras that can successfully reprise what Ellington's  
orchestra did. And that he thinks LCJB is one of a very few that can.

He points to other broadway revue show bands, (Ain't Misbehavin,  
Sophisticated Ladies, Black and Blue) as not of the caliber of LCJB  
and IMO he is right.

Ellington's orchestras, in my ears, were unique in the way they  
performed harmonically and rhythmically. I don't hear that even in the  
ghost Ellington orchestras.

Like you, I wish I could check out what LCJB did. Perhaps it will come  
out on DVD.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband

On Nov 21, 2011, at 11:13 AM, Gluetje1 at aol.com wrote:

> Wish I could check it out for myself.
>
> The way the critic ended the review struck me as an insult:
> "So is the show Broadway-ready in its present form? Almost. But if it
> is to enjoy a longer life, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra,
> intact and undiluted — not some pickup band — must remain the
> foundation."
>
> I understand about not some pickup band but surely there are other  
> musicians in the world of sufficient caliber!
>
> Ginny
> In a message dated 11/21/2011 9:16:35 A.M. Central Standard Time, barbonestreet at earthlink.net 
>  writes:
> A Historic Harlem Hothouse Swings Again (With a Modern Orchestra)
>