The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-03-23
HOT JAZZ TODAY


Jazz is not a craze-it has existed in
America for the last hundred years
and continues to exist each year more
potentlv than the last. And as for its
artistic significance, the organization
of its line and color, its new dimension
its new dynamics and mechanics,-its
significance is that it is one of the
greatest landmarks of modern art
George Antheil.
Jazz is her own way out to the
future. But until jazz finds it's way a
little more clearly, let US (the COM
posers) not take it into the concert
hall. Nowhere is the failure of the
colored-American to exploit his gifts,
more obvious than in the use he has
made of the jazz orchestra; for
although nearly every colored jazz
band is better than nearly every white
band, no colored band has yet come
uD to the level of the best white ones,
and the leader of the best of all, by
a little joke, is called Paul Whiteman
George Seldes.
Jazz rhythm shakes but it won't
flow. There is no climax. 1t never
gets anywhere emotionally. In the
symphony it would either lose its
character or wreck the structure. 1t
is exactly analogous to the hoochee-
roochee.-Thompson.
These excerpts are somewhat clever
ly analysed in "Jazzmen", a recent
book edited by Frederic Ramsey
Charles Edward Smith, released by
Harcourt Brace & Company. Its
contents consist of interesting articles
If the jazz craze in New Orleans
Chicago, New York and elsewhere
Also a number of photographs of a
number Of noted musicians who have
made important contributions to Jazz
SAVOY OLD-TIMERS
On Wednesday eve few handfuls
of we "ole-timers" gathered at the
Savoy, the home of happy feet, to
celebrate the 18th anniversary of the
famed ballroom. We were among the
trst-nighters for the grand opening
back in l926-it was a great event II
years ago How well do | remember
it was a new idea in Harlem, during
the Volstead Prohibition days. Ole
Harlem was a hotspot of "speak-
easies" and bath-tub gin was the
beverage that made the orange bios
sons and cracked ice jingle with glee
We all wondered how such beautiful
ballroom would be able to keep its
doors open without likker. The staid
nlght-lifers laughed at the "soft'
cocola and orangeade, ice cream and
sandwiches which were the strongest
things to be had at the Savoy. OF
course, in the rest rooms there were
always many empty bottles that gave
mute evidence that temperance was
not hundred per cent. In those days
the Savoy kept a keen protective eve
on bevy of the prettiest gals to be
found; these chicks were unsophisti-
Gated, and when a lonesome lac
bought string of 10c dance tickets
Just for the privilege of placing his
arms around the lovely cutie, it often
called for a sweet little blush. All
Jne girls were streamlined, and wore
the latest fashions in sheer finery:
some Of these damsels had as MANY
as o0 dresses hanging in their closets
AS time went on, dan cupid was busy
at work, and many a lovely gal founc
h,er prince charming and headed fol
the altar. Most of them are still il
Harlem, but have retired because
rather Time dealt a little too heavy
hand upon the little darlings.
don't remember whether they married
any millionaires like their white sis.
tiers of gay Broadway but most Of
them are doing well.
In the party were Billie Carol.
Ware, lnez Gray, Mildred Barrows
Hazel Higgins, Viola Barnett, Helen
Clarke, Lillian Green, BERTHE Davey
George Ware of Hartford, Conn, hus.
band of Billie Carroll, Pat Arts, Joe
Chandler, Anna Berkeley, Cissie Bo.
we, Merle Lane, Sarah Anderson
Paige Allen and Erskine Hawkins
joined the merry gang; most of the
party retired to the Brittwood where
additional refreshments were had.