[Dixielandjazz] Of melodies and such

[Robert Ringwald]

Ken, 

I respectfully disagree. In the Condon version, the trombone, while taking a few liberties, still plays it close enough to the written lead to know what the tune is. 

As a professional musician however, I do understand that civilians do hear music differently than a professional. 

This fact was brought home to me by the following:

when I was a kid one of the first OKOM recordings I heard was a Ybjb recording. it was a 78 that my parents owned with Storyville Blues on one side and That’s a Plenty on the other. I appropriated the record and proceeded to wear it out.

As a novice lisener, I knew I liked the recording, but couldn’t really pick out the various instruments and understand what they were playing    in the ensembles. In later years I heard the same recording. It was as if a curtain had been lifted between me and the band. I could hear and understand everything they were playing. 

The same thing happened with several other recordings from my childhood. 

That is one reason why Lawrence Welk became so popular with the general public. Mr. welk heard music the way civilians hear it. He would have the rehearsals taped and sent to his house. He would listen to them ande reject any arrangements that strayed too far from the melody. 

-Bob


From: Ken Gates 
Sent: Monday, April 3, 2017 10:15 PM
To: Bob Ringwald 
Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List 
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Of melodies and such

An observation for players and listeners.

I wandered in to a youtube clip of a 1927 composition--see link number one.
I found it be very well played indeed.  The melody stated and the embellishments
and variations passed around with great skill.  I couldn't remember ever hearing
that melody before.  I did some research to learn more about it, I'd like to play it.
(I'm an amateur wannabe, can't claim to be a musician).  I thought I had heard
a lot of tunes during my listening days but discovered that it has been recorded by
many ---both  jazz, swing,  Motown, and Montavani (easy listening).  Wow, how
had I not remembered hearing it.  Composed as a waltz, but played 4/4 by OKOM.
You can find many versions on youtube, but don't search for it by the title ("Diane")


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3ThotQ3WiE ​   ​   Link 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8lP9zeRPjE ​     Link 2​
​ Here's my observation.
To my ears, both of these clips are really good.
Heitger, Barrett, Christopher (and excellent local players where
it was filmed in Germany) version began with melody as composed
(except for 4/4 instead of 3/4).  Following the trombone, the trumpet,
tenor sax, and piano played creative embellishments and variations
and then some ensemble play to finish up.  Wow---great music.

After spending some time researching for other versions. I discovered
that Eddie Condon many years ago had one with one his all-star
configurations.  Link 2, of course.  Wow---great players playing well.

However, the first chorus, well played of course, began with an altered
variation of the melody.  Had this my first listening experience with this
tune I wouldn't have locked in that melody that rolled around in my head
for days.  

My suggestion to performing musicians.  There surely are folks like me
who need to hear the melody stated clearly the first time around so as
to better appreciate the inventive embellishments and variations that
follow.  Let the bebop and post bebop folks play around with chords
and extensions of chords as the structure of the tune.  They do it well.
But OKOM, I think, is based on melody.

​Just my opinion. 
Ken Gates













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