Hey Dave, cut the bloviating yourself! And can you stop personally attacking those who don't walk
lock-step with your thinking? Sheesh.
I know a good bit of the revival history, but not as much as you probably do. And, I happen to like
the music, the well-played parts of it (to my ears there were definitely some hacks involved in the
mix, on both coasts). These records show up a lot at yard sales of old white guys, it seemed to have
great appeal to men of a certain age who had hifi sets in the 50s. I wouldn't say it's antique
music, like 1920's dance-band fare, but I doubt it's of interest to many kids today (I'm sure you
can cite some exceptions). The moldy figs have all rotted into the earth by now. To my ears, it's a
return to some of the original jazz recordings' forms and tunes but in higher fidelity so one can
hear the arrangements and details better. Performance-wise, as I said some of it is excellent.
Regarding the Austin High School Gang, I again sense a west coast bias against them. Of COURSE they
were great promoters. They were in New York, in a big and crowded music market with jazz talent
around every corner. They weren't the big fish in a small market, playing at beach clubs or
auditoriums. Plus, they had revival competition in the NY market, and clearly many of the west coast
revival recordings sold relatively well in the east because they show up at yard sales and in used
record stores here. As far as lasting impact, I don't necessarily disagree with you that the
SF-centric bands survived longer and influenced many people whereas most of the east coast revival
folks rode a wave in the 50s and then mostly disappeared (along with the audiophile-oriented labels
that had released the albums). Those on the west coast who recorded for what became Contemporary
Records had the good fortune of ending up in the Fantasy Group, which reissued just about everything
on CD, so they got new legs in modern times.
I'm not positive about this, but I'd think a modern jazz fan looks at fine-slicing of this kind of
music and shrugs. What's called jazz encompasses so much more than the "Dixieland" style today. All
of this -- Condon, Austin, Watters, Murphy, Preservation Hall, etc -- is just another sub-genre
within a very big tent. Why take "sides" and get personal about any of it? People either like the
music or not. In the end, it's just music.
-- Tom Fine
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Radlauer" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, May 22, 2015 10:05 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Of interest to hot jazz fans
> Tom --
>
> First of all, WE are way off topic. If you are really interested here is
> some evidence:
>
> Yerba Buena Jazz Band
> http://jazzhotbigstep.com/372012.html
>
> Yes, I have some passion on the topic. I've been broadcasting and
> researching this music for three decades and won over a half dozen
> broadcast and writing awards on the topic. I'll invite you to my website
> which is a compendium of jazz before 1950 stylistically. You will join the
> more than 15 million annual viewers.
>
> And no, I'm not hung up on the West Coast tuba and banjo "Watters/Murphy
> chain-drive." That is merely one aspect of the revival, but a very large
> one influential worldwide. Dismissing them based on prejudice is
> inexcusable, sir.
>
> I can name a dozen bands and regional jazz movements worldwide that
> launched following directly on, or inspired in no small part by Watters and
> company in Australia, England, France, Germany and many regions of the US.
>
> Condon was a promoter and media celebrity. In the end, his music is mostly
> jam sessions. Ephemeral.
>
> If you wish to engage with me after looking/listening to some of the
> content on my site with open ears and mind, I'll be happy to engage
> respectfully in an appropriate medium. Otherwise you're standing on low
> ground, my friend.
>
> Tom you are widely informed in many matters. I hope you can cut the
> bloviating and learn something new.
>
> Dave Radlauer
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, May 22, 2015 at 6:46 PM, Tom Fine <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
>> Hey Dave, lighten up.
>>
>> I'm not sneering at all. I was asking a question. Agree that Austin High
>> School take on hot jazz was not exactly like the original New Orleans
>> style, but neither was the revival. I also disagree with your statement
>> about Lu Watters, please provide some evidence. I sense from you a strong
>> west coast circa 1952 bias.
>>
>> -- Tom Fine
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Radlauer" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Friday, May 22, 2015 9:36 PM
>> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Of interest to hot jazz fans
>>
>>
>> Tom --
>>>
>>> Not for everyone wanted to play bop. Haven't you heard of the famous war
>>> in jazz between the moderns and the moldy figs? Really your statement is
>>> beneath you.
>>>
>>> There were still young urban middle and working class white guys inspired
>>> by New Orleans music. In the end, that generation including Lu Watters
>>> had
>>> a larger and still ongoing impact worldwide and culturally than the Condon
>>> gang, who were playing bastardized New Orleans anyway.
>>>
>>> I'm sorry, but sneering at guys playing music they loved is not a pretty
>>> stance.
>>>
>>> Dave
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, May 22, 2015 at 5:21 PM, Tom Fine <[log in to unmask]>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Huh? Why a "revival" then, of something that was still being played by
>>>> the
>>>> originators?
>>>>
>>>> Wasn't bebop that "new generation" music?
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Radlauer" <[log in to unmask]>
>>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>>> Sent: Friday, May 22, 2015 7:41 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Of interest to hot jazz fans
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Every generation wants its own music, that's why.
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Dave Radlauer
>>>>>
>>>>> www.JAZZHOTBigstep.com
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Question - if the Austin High School Gang was still putting out records
>>>>>
>>>>>> through the late 40s and well into the LP era, why was a "hot jazz
>>>>>> revival"
>>>>>> necessary or commercially viable?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -- Tom Fine
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> hm# 510-848-8323
>>> cell# 510-717-5240
>>> www.JAZZHOTBigstep.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>
> --
> hm# 510-848-8323
> cell# 510-717-5240
> www.JAZZHOTBigstep.com
>
>
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