[Dixielandjazz] dressing up

[domitype .]

Important to remember that the Sonny Blount Orchestra
performed for most of the 1930s, and the future "Sun Ra" was right in the
Swing & Jazz era from almost the start.
http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/gallery/2013/oct/10/sun-ra-true-birthday/
(although there are better Sun Ra biographies around, this one was concise.)
  Dave Richoux



On Sun, Feb 9, 2014 at 2:18 PM, Gary Lawrence Murphy <garym at teledyn.com>wrote:

> Interesting take, but Sun Ra himself said the uniforms were part of the
> music, and that the tradition of flashy costumes for band members was a
> long standing tradition in black culture.  So if he was rebelling, he was
> only do so so as to conform to the past.  Also, the musicians were
> *required* to wear the 'space' uniforms; Sonny was not known for his
> tolerance of insubordination.
>
>
> On Sun, Feb 9, 2014 at 3:01 PM, Marek Boym <marekboym at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Sun Ra is a different story altogether.  The (strange) attire was a part
> > of the extra celestial image of the Arkestra, which is not similar to any
> > other band.  Many negro musicians (I refuse to use the travesty called
> > politically correct) adopted strange robes as part of the "black
> culture,"
> > but that was an expression of their rebellion against the oppressive
> white
> > culture, racial discrimination and injustice.  Not comparable to
> > traditional bands.
> > I do not want to sound as if I were opposed to uniforms, preferably
> > conservative suits, but I don't really care what the musicians wear, but
> > what - and HOW - they play.
> > Cheers
> >
> >
> > On 9 February 2014 17:39, Gary Lawrence Murphy <garym at teledyn.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >> In the Journal of Music last year they reported a study where
> >> professional adjudicators were asked to predict the awards from
> >> recordings of music festival participants.  One group was given only
> >> audio recordings, another was given video, and a third group was given
> >> only silent video.  Overwhelmingly, the adjudicators in the video
> >> groups were more accurate in matching what the participants actually
> >> scored at the festivals, and surprisingly there was no difference in
> >> accuracy between the video and the silent video judgements.
> >>
> >> Sun Ra said that the costumes and the set were part of the music too,
> >> likely the body language too, and the research bears this out: human
> >> beings are largely visually oriented (even my blind friend uses visual
> >> metaphors all the time) with what we see drastically tainting what we
> >> thought we heard.
> >>
> >> When the bandsmen asked Monk what they should wear, he replied, "Sharp
> >> as possible"
> >>
> >> On 2/9/14, Marek Boym <marekboym at gmail.com> wrote:
> >> >> The fact that Count Basie was seen on stage in shorts has little to
> do
> >> >> with
> >> >> us "normal" folks.  When you're that big, you can come on stage
> however
> >> >> you
> >> >> like.  The audience is already there because of who you are.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > It was a jazz festival, not a Basie concert (I believe that for
> >> concerts in
> >> > halls he dressed more officially), and  most musicians were casually
> >> > dressed.  There were exceptions - Bud Freeman was very neat, and the
> >> > Wallace Davenport Band appeared in dark blue suits.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >>  If you're a
> >> >> normal type of talent, then you usually have to win your audience.
>  The
> >> >> audience sees you even before they hear you, so the first impression
> is
> >> >> important.
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> > At verious festivals I have seen musicians variously dressed, and I do
> >> not
> >> > recall an instance when music was judged on the basis of the apprel,
> not
> >> > EVEN striped jackets and trousers or ridiculuos waistcoats and derby
> >> hats.
> >> > I, as you know, am on the audience side.  Planning to attend the Bohem
> >> > festival organized by listmate Tamas.
> >> >
> >> > Cheers
> >> >
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> Dixielandjazz mailing list
> >> >> Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> >> >>
> >> > _______________________________________________
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> >> >
> >> >
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> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> *Teledyn Addendum: teledyn blogspot ca*
> >> *eso: **EighthStreetOrchestra blogspot ca*
> >>
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> *Teledyn Addendum: teledyn blogspot ca*
> *eso: **EighthStreetOrchestra blogspot ca*
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