Tremendous article. I learnt a lot from this, but was astonished that I know "Peg O'My Heart" very well, because it was used in a dramatization of a novel that I used to listen to a lot to get to sleep years ago! Miff Mole has to be the best moniker ever.
Your dad had a great record collection. Thanks for sharing.
Nothing wrong with that, as Bechet is the undisputed master of his era, a beautiful player. I rarely, if ever, hear a New Orleans clarinet guy i don’t like; Dodds and Omer Simeon stand out for me but no doubt I’m forgetting some good players. Jimmie Noone, the transitional guy— I really like him a lot. I tend to have better recall for the names of white clarinet players, but that’s not a judgment— I think it’s because the New Orleans guys are all so great it’s harder for them to stand out in my memory? I’m a big fan also of Goodman and Artie Shaw.
Generally, I like the Chicago school guys so much that I tend to forget how great a real New Orleans record is until I pull out some Johnny Dodds and it’s just overwhelmingly rich. And I’m not clear on where Barney Bigard falls on the timeline, but he’s great too.
And I forgot to mention Frank Teschemacher— another oddball!
I was blessed — my dad turned me on to all those guys, especially Dodds and Noone, although He transferred his love of Goodman directly to me - Benny was the first jazz musician I ever saw live.
My dad was obsessed with the famous Goodman concert album; he had it in one of those older packages that opened up like a photo album. I’m brewing a piece on Goodman’s early work; for years I’ve collected Goodman’s pre-fame sideman sessions. It’s a mixed bag but the best of that stuff is excellent.
Yes, I like a pretty big variety of jazz, including a ton of today’s avant garde and free improv, but when jazz guys are too hip to appreciate the early stuff, it’s frustrating for me.
You had fun writing this, didn't you? I thoroughly enjoyed reading and I'm going play those clips later.
Yes yes! Talking about Pee Wee is always fun. I liked your note about your mom!
Tremendous article. I learnt a lot from this, but was astonished that I know "Peg O'My Heart" very well, because it was used in a dramatization of a novel that I used to listen to a lot to get to sleep years ago! Miff Mole has to be the best moniker ever.
Your dad had a great record collection. Thanks for sharing.
It’s a beautiful song. And yes— Miff Mole’s name was hard to beat.
Never been too hip for Bix or Pee Wee.
It’s not healthy to be that hip.
Though I will say that Bechet is my favorite of the early reed men.
Nothing wrong with that, as Bechet is the undisputed master of his era, a beautiful player. I rarely, if ever, hear a New Orleans clarinet guy i don’t like; Dodds and Omer Simeon stand out for me but no doubt I’m forgetting some good players. Jimmie Noone, the transitional guy— I really like him a lot. I tend to have better recall for the names of white clarinet players, but that’s not a judgment— I think it’s because the New Orleans guys are all so great it’s harder for them to stand out in my memory? I’m a big fan also of Goodman and Artie Shaw.
Generally, I like the Chicago school guys so much that I tend to forget how great a real New Orleans record is until I pull out some Johnny Dodds and it’s just overwhelmingly rich. And I’m not clear on where Barney Bigard falls on the timeline, but he’s great too.
And I forgot to mention Frank Teschemacher— another oddball!
I was blessed — my dad turned me on to all those guys, especially Dodds and Noone, although He transferred his love of Goodman directly to me - Benny was the first jazz musician I ever saw live.
My dad was obsessed with the famous Goodman concert album; he had it in one of those older packages that opened up like a photo album. I’m brewing a piece on Goodman’s early work; for years I’ve collected Goodman’s pre-fame sideman sessions. It’s a mixed bag but the best of that stuff is excellent.
The Goodman concert album: is that the Carnegie Hall triple LP by any chance? Excuse my ignorance.
Muskrat Ramble!
Let's not forget Pee Wee and his contemporaries- they made jazz what it is now.
Yes, I like a pretty big variety of jazz, including a ton of today’s avant garde and free improv, but when jazz guys are too hip to appreciate the early stuff, it’s frustrating for me.