[Dixielandjazz] Likes & Dislikes in Jazz

[sep troelstra]

Besides being a more active member on the so-called Miles list (Davis i.e.), I'm also lurking this site. That's because I'm privileged to have a rather omnivorous taste as far as the jazz field is concerned, where my roots are indeed in the OKOM (revival) field, starting around age 12 (back in 1956 - I'm 68 now) with Chris Barber and the DSC.

After that I gradually broadened my interest by going both backwards (to 1917 and before) and moving along with the contemporary developments. 

In my high school days, the usual development towards more modern styles went rather smoothly via Dave Brubeck, Oscar Peterson, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Art Blakey, Stan Getz, Horace Silver, to name a few.

And, indeed, in the beginning 1960's I got hooked upon Miles which lasts up to this very day. I have all his recorded output, and even a still a larger amount of unpublished concert material. I've been quite a few times in NO's Preservation Hall (even having some friends over there - and many trumpet players there have a huge admiration of Miles), but have also attended about 20 Miles concerts during the period 1967-1991.

I still remember the rather uneasy feeling at the first concert in 1967 (De Doelen, Rotterdam). Mainly because I went there, expecting a Miles concert from 1964, and forgetting that - anyway in the case of a creative artist - the artist is not so much ahead of its time, but it's the audience that lags behind! Listening back to that same concert nowadays, I feel completely comfortable!

In some years, I've seen Miles even twice, and lucky for me that was also the case in his last year, 1991. Still one of the highlights for me, while attending the New Orleans Jazz Fest 1991, the concert of Miles in the New Orleans Municipal Auditorium (with Louis in front of the building!). A few months later I saw him again at the North Sea Jazz Fest, The Hague, of course not realising the end would be that close.

I am really happy that I can enjoy so many areas of jazz, black and white, traditional, mainstream & modern. A drawback of the Miles list (with many US citizens participating) are the discussions (and fights!) on US politics, and even some occasional sneer - by only one or two - towards OKOM. I need the variation in musical styles I'm listening to - classical music, traditional jazz (I also have a large traditional jazz collection), modern jazz, and popular music. Also because of my background, having played clarinet, piano, and bassoon as an amateur - during my high school and university days - in dixieland jazz bands and classical orchestras.

The last discussions on this list showed the complete lack of respect by some of the participants towards "people of differen beliefs". Now it's not the music that makes me feel uncomfortable, but rather the fudamentalistic views expressed by some, who sort of tend to become more Roman Catholic than the pope!

Sep Troelstra

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Marek Boym 
  To: sep troelstra 
  Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List 
  Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 11:54 PM
  Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Likes & Dislikes in Jazz


  > And then piously quoting someone out of context to reinforce
  > an indefensible viewpoint. Especially when the person quoted, Miles in this
  > instance, has also been accused by the quoter as playing trash, not jazz.

  I strongly object to the word "accuse."  And true, the quote applies
  to his own playing as well.  Especially in the days he still
  considered himself a jazz player.
  >
  > Critics, especially those who have no right to be critical, should learn to
  > keep their mouths shut lest they be exposed as imperious fools.

  As long as they disagree with you.  If they do, they are to be quoted
  and defended (we've been through this before, and I'll not be dragged
  into it again).  Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that some
  ammendment to the American Constitution says someting avbout freedom
  of speech.  From your writing I infer that, if indeed there is such an
  ammendment, it only applies to people who say waht you allow them to
  say.
  >

  > BUT THEY
  > ARE ENTITLED TO THEIR LIKES AND DISLIKES." (emphasis mine)

  As long as they agree with you, that is.  Otherwise, they are "mperious fools."
  >
  > IMO, it is very tiresome to keep hearing about what is jazz, what is not,
  > what is good music, what is not, or to hear over and over again about some
  > guy who listened to Trane for years and considered it trash.
  >
  > WHY THEN DID YOU LISTEN? No one put a gun to your head. Only a masochist
  > would keep torturing oneself.

  Some time ago, you actually encouraged me to do just that.  It took me
  a while to separate the wheat  from the chaff; that included both
  Miles and Coltrane.  Moreover, thre was the radio, and sometimes one
  had to suffer Coltrane in order to hear some music as well.
  >
  >THINK.

  I strongly suffest that you take your own advice.

  Cheers,
  Marek
  >

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