[Dixielandjazz] Why Americans Don't Like Jazz

[Stephen G Barbone]

I agree with Kash that singers gain acceptance more readily than jazz musicians these days. Our own performances (Barbone Street Jazz Band) bear this out. When we first started playing as a jazz band 15 or so years ago, we did precious few vocals. Contrasting that with our performances these days, we now vocalize at least 1 out of every 3 songs.

Last night's gig was an hour concert for retirees in an upscale Continuing Care Retirement Community. Audience mostly women. (seems the men die off more quickly) Out of an 8 song, mix of Dixieland and American Songbook we did the following vocals:

Tea For Two
I Want A Little Girl
Embraceable You
That's Why They Call Me Shine

Why so many vocals these days? I think because ALL audiences relate well to the message. And in today's jazz, I think too many musicians are playing for themselves and not the audience. Nothing wrong with that as long as we don't bitch about no one listening or paying attention. Like it or not RAP, wbhich may or may noit be music depending upon your point of view,  is about the message. That's one reason it succeeds in getting audience.

My personal belief is that we (musicians) may be somewhat responsible for the dearth of audience. Some of us have perhaps, lost sight of the fact that music is COMMUNICATION. Many of us have forgotten how to communicate with the audience. Thus the vocals for us, plus a short running verbal patter after each song about who each musician is as a person. Likewise the music, especially the solos in our band, should also Communicate. 

Some no doubt, call this selling out, but it works for us as it worked with Louis Armstrong It's about the AUDIENCE.

Lets all remember that "jazz" evolved as a communicative form. It took the USA by storm because it was Sexy, Fun, Boozy and thus attracted hordes of young people. I find that putting those elements back into it works wonders with the 20 something girls. They appreciate "I Want A Little Girl", or "I Can't Get Started", or "You're Nobody's Sweetheart Now" or "Makin' Whoopee" of any one of a hundred other classic jazz songs if you pick a sweet young thing out and sing it to her. And it works for their boyfriends. I will never forget a young man coming up to me the second night of a weekend gig in a jazz club at the Seashore and thanking me for singing "I Want A Little Girl:" to his date. "You put her in the mood", he said, "And I got lucky last night. It was wonderful."


Cheers,
Steve Barbone