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Date:         Wed, 27 Jan 1993 11:18:42 CST
From:         Dave <USTS060@RUST1.DPO.UAB.EDU>
Subject:      Re: More catagorization horror stories

    I actually meant to send this to the whole net, but flurbed again
and only sent it to Sonia.  For the benefit (or perhaps bereavement)
of the whole.

 Sonia says:

 > I have no inkling of how to define jazz; all I can think of is that the term
 > itself (I think) was an African-American old-time word for "doing
 >it" which is not very helpful here.  But the roots of a term do
 >belong in the definition somehow.
     Actually jazz is a white term used to describe a form of African-
 American music that developed in the South during the early part of
 this century.  (See, my rock 'n' Roll class is paying off.)  The
 first "jazz" band ever recorded was a bunch of white guys from New
 Orleans called "The Original Dixieland Jass Band" (and no that's not
 a typo).  They attempted to cover the black sound floating around New
 Orleans and other Southern towns.  They failed miserablely.  Seems
 they just couoldn't let go.  They tried to attach to much structure
 to the music and in effect killed it.
     The second big jazz band to hit was the "Original New Orleans
 Rythm Kings" another all white band.  They at least had the courtesy
 to admit in their liner notes what they were trying to imitate and
 that they weren't doing it very well.  This early "jazz" actually
 sounded more like music to Charleston or Fox Trot to.  Young rich
 kids and "flappers" (more rich kids) popularized this sound.  Much in
 the same way that the kids of the early 50's would popularize Roock
 'n' Roll.
     Black jazz didn't become "jazz": until World War I when blacks
 moved en mass up to the north, establishing Chicago, Harlem and some
 midwest towns as the centers of black productivity.  The war created
 a shortage of white men.  Blacks took the chance and filled many of
 the open positions (at least until the white guys came home).  They
 filled spots in many area bands and therby increased their
 musicianship.  Louis Armstrong and his "hot jazz" sound became
 popular.  It was this sound that created the vocabulary for what was
 to make up jazz and our idea of what that is.
     The real tragedy is that the white audience required watered down
 versions of black music.  They just couldn't handle the raw sounds
 that we think are so hot today.  But isn't that always the way?
 Isn't rock 'n' roll just watered down blues mixed with a little
 gospel?
     Hope this has been helpfull.
 >
 > I really am interested in exactly "what" _Transmutation_ is 1) because I am
 so
 > completely enthralled with the music, and 2) because I am curious and want to
 > learn more about that music and trying to "define" it may be of some help.
 >
 > So....?
 >
 > Sonia (it's too early for this shit)

     Wow.  I'm really surprised at you, Sonia.  Don't you see that
 you already know?  What was you poem/review?  That's what Praxis is.
 That's what in a way jazz is.  Music should not be so easily pigeon
 holed.  It should challenge and provoke us.  You definition was
 beautiful and personally, all I need.  Any more definition and you'll
 kill it.  That's why I can't give a more thorough definition of jazz
 that it history.  It's music and while the events and people that
 surrounded its inception give a hint to what mmade it, you can never
 really explain, exaclty what it is.  Especially in the space of five
 or six lines.









======================================================================
Rev. Dave Hall                |  "It's not the voting that's
usts060@rust1.dpo.uab.edu     |   democracy, it's the counting.
                              |     -- Tom Stoppard
======================================================================
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