[Dixielandjazz] Covid-jazz much needed musical humor courtesy Lew Shaw

Tue May 12 11:28:13 EDT 2020

To: DJML

From:  Norman Vickers, Jazz Pensacola

Hello friends at DJML.  I sent this out to a private list and it was
suggested that I send to DJML as well.  So, some of you wonderful people
will get it the second time.  But, as I frequently say, if you get this more
than once, you're twice-loved.

Keep them coming.  If you can contribute to the humor, please copy me and
Lew Shaw; see his contact information at the end of this message.

____________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

To some jazz friends and a few other friend with a good sense of humor.

One of the joys of jazz is opportunity to know charming people that I'd
otherwise not have encountered in life.  One of those is my good friend Lew
Shaw of Scottsdale, AZ.  Lew was a big-time sports writer who also had an
interest in jazz. Got his start in jazz writing in 1962 when he was
publicist for Berkshire Music Barn in Massachusetts.  During that time he
got to meet and interview Armstrong, Ellington, Basie and giants of the day.
He was a go-getter for the Arizona Classic Jazz Society  in Phoenix.  I met
him through the American Federation of Jazz Societies.  He was president of
AFJS a few years after my stint in that office. ( Unfortunately AFJS
disbanded in 2004 after a successful 20 years. )  He's written for   West
Coast Rag and subsequently for Don Jones' American Rag.    Then when  AR
transitioned to The Syncopated Times  under Andy Senior's editorship a
couple of years ago, he's continued to write for TST.  In addition, he is
author of a couple of books.  See  his Jazz Beat: Notes on Classic Jazz on
Amazon, for example.

Lew sent this humorous piece to some friends.  He kindly gave me permission
to send to my list(s).  So, here goes.  Hope you will get a chuckle or two,
as I did.

Thanks, Lew.  Thanks and good wishes to my jazz friends.   

Last message:  if you come up with a clever quip or two, send along to Lew
but, please, also copy me.

Norman Vickers

5429 Dynasty Dr.

Pensacola, FL 32504-8583

Cell 850-324-5022

 <http://www.jazzpensacola.com> www.jazzpensacola.com

MEMBER JAZZ JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION

Lew Shaw wrote:

Family and Friends:

I did a sampling of how musicians are dealing with the COVIT-19 epidemic and
wrote a story for the June issue of The Syncopated Times. While the pandemic
is no joking matter, it is important that we not lose our collective sense
of humor.

Los Angeles bassist Richard Simon wrote: "I'm still practicing, looking for
a few good notes, and de-composing.  Some tunes I'll be ready to play when
we're again all cleared for social mingling and public performances include:

 - "I COVID the Waterfront"

 - "Lysol You Last Night (and Got that Old Feeling)"

 - "Soap Gets in Your Eyes"

 - "The Mask You Made is Over" (accompanied on guitar by George Benson)

             - "Lung Ago and Far Away" (opening line: "Chills run up and
down my spine.")

            -A Test-Kit, A Task-It   (sung by Ella Fitzgerald)

 - and of course, the old favorite, "Vaccinatin' Rhythm"

Multi-instrumentalist Scott Robinson added a few from his New Jersey home:

Sneeze Funny That Way
I'm in the Mood For Glove

Not Close to You

Sentimental Germy (or my contribution: Germy Bounce)

I'm Building Up to an Awful Shutdown
and, Jelly Roll Morton's The Purells (for the non-jazzers: The Pearls)

Not to be outdone, drummer Ray Templin down in Tucson has composed the 2020
Quarantine Rag, An Infectious Two-Step, "a catchy little ditty that reflects
what life is like every day at my house." Its constant repetition of
monotonous chords elicited the comment, "It should be played ad nauseam and
will certainly keep people a good six feet away."

Each and every morning we should all face east as the sun rises and sing
Charlie Chaplin's SMILE:

Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through
for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just SMILE!

Lew Shaw

480-451-2285

 <mailto:azscribe at wmvaz.com> azscribe at wmvaz.com

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