[Tradjazz] IMPACT RECORDS

[Bruce McNichols]

IMPACT RECORDS

I like this thread and I like Steve Barbone's (or was it Ken Gates's) thing about not one's favorite records, but the ones of most Impact.


I guess that it's easier to cite my favorites, but then, those are most likely the ones that had more impact on me.


When I was a little kid, there was a Victrola in the cellar. I discovered it, along with a bunch of records (78's, of course). I still remember some of them (and I think I still have them, somewhere). 


There was San by the New Synco Jazz Band and some that I liked, by The Varsity Eight. There was one of The Charleston, that I took a shine to. Yup, it must've been those old records that first turned me on, to old-time music. 


There was Al Jolson singing "Alexander's Band is Back in Dixieland" (a tune that we do, to this day). Also one of "Where Did Robinson Crusoe Go, with Friday on a Saturday Night (another we do).


Another I paid attention to, was an old blue-label Columbia of "Oh Daddy Blues" by Bessie Smith Clarence Williams on piano. The flipside was "Baby Won't You Please Come Home." Loved 'em then, and now (I have re-issues).


I'm not sure if the word "Impact" applies, but those records sure got me started. then, when I was 12 years old, my sister gave me a Christmas present of the Firehouse Five plus Two - their first Good Time Jazz (10") LP. That was surely the one that started me off on my life of loving old-time two-beat jazz bands. 


That band had a joyous, happy sound, that I fell in love with. It was years later when I discovered the original masters, that the FH5+2 were influenced by. Before then, I had discovered the San Francisco revival bands (Yerba Buena JB, Turk Murphy, Bob Scobey etc.). Then, I got into early Louis, King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, etc.


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Bill Taggart wrote of being influenced by earlier players of your instrument. If you folks have heard Bill and I on Radio OKOM (www.okom.com) you may have heard us go at it more than once. Wellsir, he we go again . . . 


I take issue with Bill's thought that one is influenced by players of "your instrument." I contend that one is influenced by EVERYONE they hear. Firstly, even if you hate what you hear, you are surely influenced by it (albeit negatively).


Next, I say that guys such as Louis, have influenced players of all instruments. For instance I know a number of trombonists who cite Louis as their main influence, and their playing shows it.


Some say that my band sounds much as the Firehouse band. I suppose that some of George Probert's soprano sax style has crept into my playing (without me ever consciously trying to play that way). I never intended for my band to be a copy of them, but I suppose that I have tended towards players that I like, and since I like that band, I guess that I like guys who play that way. I suggest that all band leaders probably follow that same path (whether they know it or not).


None of this is necessarily good or bad. It's just simply the way it is.


Of course I like Bill's thought that seems to agree with mine, in that we don't say that our way should be followed by all others. We all have our own likes, dislikes, and theories as to what it's all about.


LET'S HEAR FROM YOU FOLKS ABOUT THIS or anything else.


McN




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Posted by Bill Taggart 10/8/06: 

" IMPACT RECORDS" 

Friends... I've been enjoying the flow of ideas about this subject. 


To my mind, this dialogue about "who influenced whom the most" is proving one thing: The answer is different for each musician! We each probably can remember certain records that individually inspired each of us and many of which we tried to emulate as we developed our respective styles and "Schtique". 


Also, what influences a cornet player hopefully is going to be different than a clarinet, trombone, piano or tuba player... And that's the way it should be. 


The one thing I can't abide is the person who takes a strong position to the effect that he/she knows all the answers. There are those who pontificate from the position that "it's my way or the highway". Such "aficionados" can take a long walk off a short pier as far as I'm concerned. I'm glad no one in our discussion group has taken that road... :-) 


If I were a cornet or trumpet player I would borrow figures and riffs from Louis, Bix, Lu Watters, Bob Scobey, Al Hirt, Billy Barnes; Michel Bastide, Wingy, Wild Bill and on and on... Heck I'd borrow ideas from Clyde McCoy! I would think that being told "wow! You play just like Louis" would be an unintentional put down. 


Thank heavens there are no rules or standards as to what is good Dixieland jazz vs trad jazz, vs any kind of jazz! Jazz played by persons without spontaneity and individuality would soon lose its soul. 


That's one man's opinion. 

:-0 All The Best, Bill \

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