Henri Renaud, in the liners for Columbia's LP "A Jazz Piano Anthology" (KG
32355, 1973): "Harmonically, {Bix) is twenty years ahead of his time."
Richard Sudhalter, in the liners for Mosaic 211 (2001), "The Complete Okeh
and Brunswick Bix Beiderbecke, Frank Trumbauer and Jack Teagarden Sessions
(1924-36):"
"Musically speaking, nothing about In a Mist strikes the ear as innovative
or particularly unconventional. Above all, what sets it apart is the fact
of its composition by a
musical autodidact best known as a hot cornet soloist."
Of course, Renaud and Sudsy are both entitled to their widely
divergent opinions in the case. But does it evince a
greater historiographical development that I managed to
miss? I am still under the impression that Bix' only recorded piano solo
was very innovative in 1927, though I admit that there isn't a lot in that
time frame to compare it to.
And as to "twenty years ahead" I think it's hard to project it that far;
even Duke Ellington was well beyond it in 1947.
What say ye?
Uncle Dave Lewis
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