DJ has been trying to get me to appreciate jazz, despite my protestations that I am constitutionally unable to. I think that jazz appreciation must reside on the same underdeveloped part of my brain as sense of direction, understanding of football, and interest in economic theory. It just ain't gonna happen, folks. So I've pretty much given up on real jazz; I like "jazzy" music and certain styles of blues, but I just don't "get" jazz. So, DJ suggested I give a listen to Louis Armstrong playing the music of W. C. Handy (the latter whose name I had previously heard only in a line from the Marc Cohn song "Walking in Memphis"). This turned out to be a great idea, because everyone loves Louis Armstrong, and it's an easy way to start appreciating at least a type of jazz. Here's what DJ had to say (slightly edited by me):
The disk I grew up listening to over and over was the original vinyl release, which I now know (from hearing the now-available CD "remastered" release) was heavily edited by the producer, John Hammond (I think it was him). And the vinyl version is a whole lot better than the CD remix. For instance, my favorite cut on the disk is "Ole Miss," which on the original release didn't have that dull piano solo immediately after the first chorus, and combined two takes to make what I consider to this day to be the one truly greatest single jazz number ever recorded. But the CD is still great. Another thing the KILLS ME to this day is that first phrase on the first cut, "Saint Louis Blues," with the trumpet starting out by itself. No one ever had such a rich, round sound on the trumpet. My other favorite bit is the end of "Chantez-les Bas" when he keeps hammering that high note, which is not THAT high by modern-day trumpet standards but stands as a great and not tacky use of the high register. While I'm pontificating, allow me to point out that Louis Armstrong basically invented, or developed, single-handedly the entire concept of the jazz soloist as we now know it AND AND AND AND jazz singing. I don't mean just scat singing (also his invention) but ALL jazz singing. It all comes from him. Before Armstrong, there was essentially no vocal jazz and no jazz instrumentalists ever took long, "real," improvised solos.
See, now, this is the sort of thing I can just begin to understand and appreciate, but my brain stops slightly short of "getting it." But I can listen to this music and enjoy the way it sounds and the way it makes me feel. And I know DJ will agree that THAT'S what really matters, and what Louis himself was all about.
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