[Tradjazz] News Fron "down-under"

[trevor rippingale]

Bruce, 
          Yes, in recent days I've been re-visiting some old books of mine and I believe  that the Crosby Bobcats certainly deserve the great write-ups jazz academics have given them over the years . For example : 
          1946 Rudi Blesh : "One of the most significant developments of the last decade"....and "contributed to the revival of jazz"....(but also branded it "stylised pseudo jazz" in true Blesh tradition). More enthusiastic were :
          1950 Barry Ulanov  :"more than any other band , large or small, (they) brought New Orleans jazz back to life." 
          1989 Gunther Schuller : " No orchestra pursued the re-discovery of New Orleans and early Chicago jazz as consistently and as authentically as the Bob Crosby orchestra , and this right in the middle of the Swing explosion."...."kept the music of the classic era of jazz current as a living, active music."..."became in a way the furst jazz repertory orchestra"..."cannot but fail to honor its role in the history of jazz of the Swing Era."
       Yet, Schuller also stresses that of over 300 sides the Crosby groups recorded between '35 and '42,  280 were pop tunes, a dozen or so swing instrumsntals and "fewer than 40 sides were devoted to genuine Dixieland jazz numbers". No wonder they were also a great commercial success !
                              Just thought you'd find this of interest, as I did.
                                              Trevor
        
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bruce McNichols 
  To: tradjazz at list.okom.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 3:06 AM
  Subject: Re: [Tradjazz] News Fron "down-under"


  Hi Trevor,

  I like it, I like it.  Although I don't have very many Bob Crosby recordings, I love the few I do have.  

  Due to Herb Gardner's association with Lawson & Haggart (Herb performed many times with The World's Greatest Jazz Band - or as Herb used to call it: "The World's Most Modest Jazz Band"), I got a chance to meet Bob Crosby.  It was a at a big-deal concert in New Jersey, which featured Teresa Brewer, Slam Stewart and the Crosby Band.  Nappy Lamare, Eddie Miller and Lawson & Haggart were among those in the big band.
    Bob Crosby was an amiable fellow, coming across (personally and vocally) much like his more famous brother.
  I think that he was a wonderful singer who was probably held back by the monumental fame of Bing.  The band sure was good (that night, and of course, originally).  I understand that it was a cooperative band and Bob was the front man, not the actual leader.  A very clever and apparently a very wise, business arrangement.

  Thanks to you guys, and Ed Metz, Sr., that good music is being carried on.

  McN


    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: trevor rippingale 
    To: trad jazz 
    Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 1:36 AM
    Subject: [Tradjazz] News Fron "down-under"


    Dear Bill, Bruce and list members generally,
               I thought you might like to share some of my excitement about a highlight in Sydney jazz. Tonight "THE OZCATS : TRIBUTE TO THE BOBCATS" will play for the Sydney Jazz Club's popular monthly jazz dance. 
               Personnel features Bob Barnard (cornet), backed by Ron Falson (leader, trumpet, flugel-horn and arrangements), Dan Barnett (trombone/vocals),Paul Furniss(clarinet/vocals), myself (tenor sax/compere), Lawrie Thompson (drums), Kenny Powell (piano), John Blenkhorn (guitar) and Stan Velacos(bass). 
               Our leader Ron Falson has done almost 50 excellent charts, most of them transcriptions from the original Bobcats records plus some originals in that same style and some other vocal backings, all of which are a delight to play. Ron was one of the busiest "in-demand" arrangers for Aussie TV in its big-band hey-day of the 60s/70s. 
               The Ozcats" have played in public on only three previous occasions, all over the last few months : the 2006 Southern Highlands Jazz Festival, The 100th Anniversary of The Sydney Professional Musicians' Club, and The 29th Manly International Jazz Festiva, where I'm glad to say that audiences responded magnificently to our efforrts.  
                The band was originally called together for rehearsals last year by Sydney guitarist/drummer/composer  Denis Sutherland who was inspired initially by the original Bobcats records and then by Ed Metz's wonderful "Bobcats" group. 
                Just thought you might like to share our enthusiasm for "the Bobcats"  wonderful music : I'll let you know how the night goes !
                                      Trevor Rippingale


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