[Dixielandjazz] Recorded Tempos

[Bert]

Hello all,
Nice discussion!
A few words I would like to add :
The function of music differs from band to band and from various circumstances.
- Fletcher Henderson's band started as a recording band, they made only records in the real early twenties until some of the band members (NOT Henderson himself!) found the band a regular gig. There they very often were doing music for dancing, but they also did accompany shows in orchestra pits.- in the 1930's the dance tempo's were very fast, that is commented in several interviews by the Henderson band members, the reason why some 1934 recordings are really fast. Check Memphis Blues (curious arrangement , where they at one spot solo on St. Louis Blues minor part!)- One aspect that really struck me, Henderson had an enormous reputation for playing waltzes in life situations, however they never recorded one!
Compared to Henderson Duke Ellington usually was doing less dance orientated music, although they also had to accompany dance acts in between show music. Later of course they did mainly concerts where the audience was just sitting to listen to the music. 
Another aspect, sometimes the acoustics of a given room make it better to change the tempo slightly, think about churches with huge echo delays, where it simply can be smarter to slow it a little down.
Kind regards,
Bert Brandsma