[Dixielandjazz] Benny Goodman 1937, it is like Steve Jobs and the Computer

[Marek Boym]

>
> Such a fast development.  Interested to learn when the cut off was from
> small jazz bands
> to the big band.

Not clear cut.  There were big bands already in the twenties, both
black and white.  And the story how Gene Goldkeatte beat Fletcher
Henderson in a battle of bands is too wel known to repeat it yet
again.

You know in New Orl. marching bands were the first jazz
> and dance bands.

According to waht I've read, marching bands played parades,and
funerals,  Small bands played in cafes and other joints.  And there
were the "society" bands - Papa Celestin's, Armand Piron's.  Quite
jazzy, judging by their recordings.
>
> Exactly from what I read all the black bands were dance bands and the white
> bands were the jazz bands,

An over-simplification.  All bands provided entertainment in various
clubs, and played for dancing.  Many black bands used the word "jazz."

 until Louie came on the scene.

He was on the scene in the very early '20's, i.e. practically from the
beginning.  But King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band played in Chicago
before Armstrong joined it.


 Another
> interesting question would be what made the musicians want to play jazz and
> not play in dance bands.

Many played both.  And dance band musicians made jazz records.  Jazz
allowed them the freedom lacking in dance bands.  And the opportunity
to improvise.

 I was talking to Mel Lewis one night and he said
> that jazz bands killed the band business.

That was much later.  He must have meant the revival, spearheaded by Lu Watters.
>
> Anyway, this band is really swinging.

Of course!  But then, BG has always been my personal all-time favourite.

 I use to play with Stan Rubin a swing
> era purest at the Glenn Island Casino and we played some swinging tunes, but
> again nothing original to Stan's band.  The first time I played with him he
> told me to read the written solo I was not allowed to improvise.  So what is
> jazz?

But htere were improvised solos in many swing bands.  Glenn Miller
discouraged them, but others did not.  I cannot express an opinion on
Stan Rubin's band, although I heard it at Red Blazer Too in NYC.  But
that was in 1993 or 1996.


Cheers