[Dixielandjazz] DJML Facebook Page

[Gary Ross]

This seems a good time for me to jump in!  (like to listen and have been for about a month).  Let me introduce myself.  I am Gary Ross and I play with the Redwood Dixie Gators.  This is a rather new Dixieland Band of 2trumpets, 1 trombone, 1 clarinet, 1tuba, 1 guitar, and a drummer.  The group is based  out of Eureka Ca.  We have been in existence for about three years now.  I joined this list because we needed some more music and the people on this group have been very helpful.  
 
On the north coast of California the Dixie Gators play at any event we can find, mostly as volunteers but sometimes for a little pay.  Arts alive nights are popular for us and we stand outside a store and people do listen and put money in the hat too!  We even play for a dance or two for young college age people.  
 
I have noticed that the Dixieland Art form is not necessarily dead here, but just not heard enough.  People that we play for always have a smile on their face when they hear the music and the toes start tapping.  I think that is one trait of the music.  We are rather new on the dance scene  but their are dance clubs that are interested in dancing to Dixieland music. Most people on the North Coast just have not heard enough Dixieland music.  Some have never heard it before.  The best way to get the music to be preserved is to play it out there and people will like it and it will grow on them! 
 
Having been recently retired from teaching music in the public schools, I have to confess that I too am new at Dixieland.  I think since this is an American Art form, it probably is not played enough at the middle school and high school levels.  The United States have many Jazz Bands at schools and most of them play a Swing style or big band style, but I never came across a high school Dixieland group in my teaching days.  We should probably be playing at more school settings.  Could be educational one would hope.
 
It has been a lively Facebook discussion and yes the Gators are not there.  I will have to do something about that!  
Thanks for listening and carry on
 
Gary Ross
Redwood Dixie Gators (trumpet) 
 
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