[Tradjazz] HOKUM

[Bruce McNichols]

HOKUM

Over the years, I've come upon many an old-time music buff, who, from my point of view, takes himself (or herself) much too seriously. 

In my group, The Smith Street Society Jazz Band, there's lots of fooling around. We are forever poking fun at ourselves. That said, we are also very serious about our music. We may perform novelty songs and parodies, but all the while, we endeavor to play solid, traditional jazz. 

~~~

In the 1960's, a guy named Ted Johnson, on the old WVNJ Radio (in New Jersey), played a wonderful collection of Dixieland Jazz. However I did take issue with one aspect of Ted's philosophy. He once got a request for some records by the Firehouse Five Plus Two. Ted railed against them, saying that he will not play records by a band that makes fun of the music.

Again, I know that I'm opening myself up for a lot of comments, but I will press on.

I am of the firm belief that the FH5+2 was not making fun of our music at all. They were having fun with it, but not making fun of it. Ward Kimball, et al, clearly loved the music they played and found great joy in performing it. No bells and sirens can hide that idea from me. Further, that band spread the faith, of our music, far more than any other band at that time (the 1950's). They were known around the world and they turned many people on, to the music. For Ted Johnson to summarily dismiss them seems very wrong to me. How 'bout you?

~~

When I was in the 8th grade, we started a little Dixieland band. We'd have a jam session before and after each high school band rehearsal. The band director loved us - until, one day he came into the room as we were wailing away on the school song. He chastised us for desecrating the song. Even then, at my young age, I was overcome with resentment for his attitude (although I never said a word). We were bestowing, on our school song, all the emotions and love we had for the music. To suggest that jazzing something up is insulting it, harks back to the 1920's when prudes suggested that "The Charleston is the Devil's music." How dare they think such a thing?

The usually staid Turk Murphy made many a recording with aspects of hokum included. On Turk's recording of "Robert E. Lee" there's a loud steamboat whistle and a guy shouting "STEAM BOAT!" His opening of "Curse of an Aching Heart" has a child's voice asking "Hey Mister, Is my Daddy in there?" followed by the retort "Get away from them swingin' doors!" 

Pops himself added lots of hokum to many of his numbers. Some accuse him of "Uncle Tomming." I say hogwash. The man was an entertainer, as well as a jazz master.

And what of Jelly Roll Morton? "Sidewalk Blues" is a prime example. "Hey why don't ya get off the sidewalk? You should be president of the Deaf and Dumb Society!"

Seems to me that hokum played a part in many on old-time jazz recording (suggesting that it was included in live performances too).

Now I'll don my Devil's Advocate hat for a moment: Just because those beloved jazz figures included some hokum in their acts, doesn't make it right. 

That said, my feeling is that it's OK, whether they did it or not. What's your feeling?

McN




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