[Dixielandjazz] Critical reading

[Marek Boym]

One should never uncritically approach any test purporting to tell one what
is good or not good.
I have already referred to Russell's and Harris' book "Recorded Jazz: A
Critical Guide" as "my Bible."  And the Bible says that Chris Barber's
version of "Petit Fleur" is "a jam of jazz."  I have never thought so, but
upon re-listening that feeling was strengthened: it is nowhere near any of
Sidney Bechet's versions.   Or Bob Wilber's.
By the way, when Wiber said that the song had become a hit in Barber's
(actually - Monty Sunshine's) version, I was sure that he was wrong, as in
Israel  the Bechet version was heard at every dance party.  Somehow,
perhaps due to our close relations with France in those days, the Israeli
Hed Artzi record company hasted to issue the Bechet version on a 45 rpm
single, backed by "Dans les rues d'Antibes;" hence, the major light music
version played it daily (and more than once).  The other station which
broadcast light music had the other version, and yours truly used to change
stations as soon as one of them played the song.
Nostalgia, nostalgia...
Cheers,
Marek
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ml.islandnet.com/pipermail/dixielandjazz/attachments/20201212/d6a34442/attachment.html>