Larry explained that there were three kinds of music In New
Orleans in 1911, and gave examples of each different kind. Marching -
anything was an excuse for a March! Then there was music in the parks, and more in the dance
halls.
Funeral marches started out somber in respect for the deceased.
Larry solemnly introduced St. James
Infirmary Blues on tuba, clarinet maintaining low register. But
then the march changed to a lighter side, trumpet, clarinet,
trombone playing upbeat, happy, lively, jazz in celebration of his life.
"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust - If the women don't get him then
the liquor must."
They burst into an uproarious Just a Little
While to Stay Here. Cook fabulous on soprano sax, Flaherty
fiercely strumming the banjo. The early marching musicians were followed by ladies waving
their 'second best' linens. (They didn't use their 'best' linens for this,
so they
were called the 'second line'.)
Music in the dance halls, the 1903 Original Dixieland One Step
had Dave Cook again on soprano sax , and Eva playing turn-of-the-century parlor piano on keyboard.
(Emerson did not have their piano up on the stage.)
One song had seven names, but was never written down until 1926.
Kid Ory wrote it down and put his name on it, Muscat Ramble.
Cook in splendid form on clarinet.
A1901 march, High Society, played by Louis in the movie by
the same name. Drum intro, Dave acing the
ubiquitous clarinet
soliloquy, impressive drum solo by
Rich.
The band tries to play in the manner that
this music was first played, as heard in old recordings. They play without amplification. Jelly
Roll Morton never changed his style. They try to pick up from him,
and not modernize it. The Funky Butt Band's At The Jazz
Band Ball was an example.
Music in the parks - There was a strong French influence in New
Orleans, from the French speaking creoles and their quadrilles, you
can hear it in the beginning in fours. Some came down to us as
Tiger Rag - not too fast - with the trombone taking the vicious
'tiger'.
Back to funerals - starting with Just a Closer Walk With Thee,
closing with the Saints Go Marching In, with the trombone
slipping in Deep In The Heart of Texas. Eva playing Jingle
Bells, great tuba, Rich tossing his drum sticks in the air, and
grabbing new ones, never skipping a beat.
Larry Zuk is a retired engineer and educator from Arlington, and
at 88 he enjoys 'messing around'
with boats. A member of the American Canoe Association, he sails
canoes all over the world.
You can hear this authentic jazz of the 1920's, pulling from the
repertoire with period instrumentation, playing with passion and
devotion, so the styles are not lost to future generations - every
Monday evening, 7-9:30pm, as Larry, Eva, and The New New Orleans
Jazz Band at the Burlington C.O.A., 61 Center St.
Burlington MA 781.270.1950.
