[Dixielandjazz] Gloom mongers

[Judy Eames]

Hi to all the pessimists and optimists,

I'm just getting back to my version of normality after a great trip to 
Sun Valley.  (Maybe one or two of you should take a break from the wall 
to wall gigs and see some young people in action)

Let's start with "our" Katie Cavera....we caught a couple of her sets 
with the Reynolds Brothers.... great bass playing and a worthy addition 
to a group that has fun but doesn't let the humour get in the way of the 
music. Incidentally Ralph only just achieved "later middle age" as he 
celebrated his 60th birthday at the festival. :-)

High Sierra's cornet player was Marc Caparone; hugely talented in the 
opinion of Tony Davis (my resident trumpet player). Tony was invited to 
join the band for a few numbers he and  Marc swapped around  between Ist 
and 2nd tpt  parts (note to; /I think it was SGB../.. youngsters can and 
do improvise and some knock spots off the oldies!) Another great player; 
Bria Skonberg is well known to you and she had a starring role in the 
Big Band sessions
There were far too many good young people to mention; the festival 
showcased several college and university groups and it was impossible to 
hear them all.

BUT the name on many people's lips was NOLA's  Meschiya Lake ... I 
haven't heard such a good singer for a long time.  She has a wonderful,
tone, perfect intonation and there doesn't appear to be anything 
derivative about her delivery. Her stage presence is impeccable, 
especially as she doesn't resort to onstage gyrations as  many more 
established singers feel the need to do.   Her band  Dem Little Big 
Horns are all young talented players... look out for them... Meschiya 
told me that they're coming to the UK in February so I hope she attracts 
the swing dancers, young and old, as she did at SV.

I don't mean to instigate a boring catalogue of emails naming all the 
young players but they're there.... every year new young  faces appear 
at the festivals; many in the UK  are, or have been, music college 
students who are comfortable playing "old style" music as well as the 
more progressive stuff.  They improvise, they read and there's great 
mutual respect between the generations.

There were also a lot of brilliant older players at SV, we're hoping to 
get back there next year and to go earlier to enjoy the wonderful scenery.

Jude

jude at judyeames.co.uk
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