[Dixielandjazz] Al and Joe Modernist-Cohn

[ROBERT R. CALDER]

I would suppose a reference to Joe Cohn and his father as Modernists (reported of late by Marek) 

might come from an extreme narrowness of view, or wariness of potential innovations, or just the usual ignorant journalism -- 
as if there was no jazz other than trumpet-trombone-clarinet-traddie, or something vaguely equated with Charlie Parker (the man that film was made about) or the MJQ. 
Not to mention supposing a current player's parent might somehow have retired to live off the proceeds of an earlier career.  I do hope Joe is thriving and will continue so to do. 

As for "cool" I emerged into the evening with a seriously knowledgeable jazz friend after a concert by Shorty Rogers, Bud Shank, Bill Perkins and company and my friend said through the glow bestowed on all present and receptive, "what on earth was 'Cool' about that?"  

Cool in the sense of just plain good, OK, but cool in the sense marketed in the long wake of Birth of the Cool, and later frowned on by Bud Shank? 

I can only repeat what Ruby Braff said about the label Modernist, but I won't since I don't like typing these words into an e-mail 


HAPPY 2013 !!!!  


Robert