[Dixielandjazz] Tears

[Shaw, Tim]

I agree with John and  earlier comments by Alain de La Simone.  The NBE band is better than competent and has the advantage of much better recording, but its version lacks the "depth'  of the Oliver 1923 version (as do all the other  revival version I've ever heard). Like Alain,  I find the trumpet vibrato excessive and irritating.
 
There's nothing much unusual about Tears as a tune - it's a fairly standard pop tune except that it has 40 bars  instead of 32 (ABABC) with a 16 bar verse.

The band play the last 8 (C) as an intro, then verse-chorus-verse and 2 choruses out, with Armstrong playing seven 2-bar breaks in the penultimate chorus. If you listen carefully, you can hear Oliver joining him in the last 2 1-bar breaks.

Dutrey's a bit over-recorded, but I think the tune is pretty clear - a fairly sentimental tune if played straight, but Oliver and Armstrong play it hot - mostly in 3rds and 6ths in the chorus, like a brass band. Dutrey plays a legato counter melody, - the sort of line that the euphoniums would play in the trio of a march (or the cellos would play in a salon orchestra of the time). Dodds provides a counterpoint to the tune and fills in the second 2 bars of each 4.

The CJB recording is one of my favourites because it epitomises the bands best qualities - beautifully integrated and balanced ensemble with lots of complex interplay between the parts -  brilliant Armstrong breaks, great playing by everyone and especially the unifying legato line of Dutrey,  whose "unusual" style is not at all unusual for the time. The only thing missing is the  the blues and Olivers trademark few-note plunger muted breaks.  Most of all it has the feeling of restraint, with power-in-reserve and no sens of  trying too hard or showing off. No revival band I've ever heard quite captures that feeling.

cheers
tim 


________________________________________
From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com [dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com] On Behalf Of John Petters [jdpetters at btinternet.com]
Sent: 04 June 2012 18:00
To: Shaw, Tim
Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Tears

Morning folks,


On 04/06/2012 00:58, Stephen G Barbone wrote:

> Here is the original King Oliver version
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlKXnghdq1w
>
> In my ears, the New Black Eagles do a fine job with it. As for melody, I hear a melody. Personally, I prefer listening to the Eagles possibly because the fidelity is much better and I am not a fan of Dutrey's trombone on the Oliver version. In my ears it is a bit sappy.
>
> In terms of musicianship, sometimes I think we tend to put the originals on a pedestal. Deservedly so since they did it first.  However there are some outstanding musicians playing today, like the Eagles on this tune, who also deserve a lot of credit for their rendition which I think swings its ass off.
>


I listened to the Eagles version and found it to be a good version - but
to my ears, it had neither the depth or feel of the Oliver version - and
that is not to belittle the Eagles at all. Chez Chesterman's band over
here played Tears regularly and when I have put my own Creole band
line-up together for my festivals we sometimes included it.

As for Dutrey, Steve, I believe his contribution to be very interesting.
He has an individual approach. Listen to how nearly everyone mis-times
the trombone breaks on Snake rag for example.

As for Oliver's band it remains one of the most important ensembles in
jazz history, so yes they belong on the pedestal. I agree there are some
great musicians today, but I seldom find latter day jazz of sufficient
interest to want to keep on listening to it, whereas the Olivers never
become tiring or boring.
Cheers,


--
John Petters
www.traditional-jazz.com
Amateur Radio Station G3YPZ

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