JSngry

Ok, George Cates!

Well, it is. Not saying that it is or ever should be forgotten, but Lord knows it's over. Not all at once, of course, but it's happening. If you don't believe me check back in 100 years. Oh, Arlen. Yes!!!

I got hooked on the Ellington In Order (via Spotify) and finally bought the 3 CD Decca set. Maybe I'm just in the mood for it now, but these things are really tickling my fancy as far as feeling movement. Love it when that happens!

Bad/undeserving, no. Overhyped as part of a business narrative, yes, absolutely. Make mine Kern, please. But better still, move on past all of that. It's over.

My beef is that it's not a good piece of music, period. It's shallow, corny, and lacks any depth at all. It's all surface and no substance. And then, whatever follows from that. I think that Iverson gets that part of it absolutely correct.

Recent events have directed me back into (very) early Ellington. The way that Fred Guy hooks up with Wellman Braud and Sonny Greer is damn near rambunctious! I'm also imagining how people (civilians and showgirls alike) would be dancing to this, and that really brings the rambunctiousness into a more vivid relief.

Of course that is all correct. "White people" certainly did all of that. Which is precisely the point. That was just one side of the story. And still is. And there were -and still are - plenty of people for whom black music was certainly not beneath serious consideration, namely creators (of all "colors") of black music. But, you know, "white people" gonna "white people". It's all about them, always Not even Duke can take the cheese out of it. Not that he was trying... that's like a George Cates chart with great soloists.

Where you there at the time, or are you just telling the one side of the story that has become the popular narrative? There's another side to the story that holds that it's not a good composition and didn't tell anything that some people didn't already know. People who didn't create the popular narrative. There's absolutely nothing wrong with putting that other perspective out there and saying that enough is enough.

I found the original (French iirc) issue in a Shakespeare and Company store that otherwise had nothing but popular selections. Literally. How it got there was beyond me. Sonny had his people shut it down ASAP. Only allowing it's contents to see USA issue once a deal has been reached that nothing else from the RCA vaults was to be issued. I hope that he reconsiders. That was a while back.

I'm happy to pay for Mark's writing. Iverson's, not so much. Even when he's right. This too is a straw man argument. Rhapsody In Blue is not a good symphonic piece, not at all. It's tripe, pure and simple.

This, pretty much.

Got any other ideas?

Referring to his banjo playing.

That was not his job. Remedied. But reading of the full article is strongly encouraged, and tips to get around the paywall are welcomed!

Yuck.

I'll bet you that Duke Ellington commissioned more Duke Ellington compositions than Paul Whiteman did Raymond Scott compositions. Betcha.

I've never liked it and have never claimed otherwise. Ever. It's corny as fuck.i felt that way before I knew any better and the more better I knew the deeper my loathing for it. I've never been bashful about disagreeing with Iverson, but on this one, I totally concur. Gershwin in general...whatever. But Rhapsody In Blue...please die. Go away and never come back.

Honk Wilcox - Blow Honk Blow!!!

Nice!

It's Rahsaan. They should be able to play more than one format at the same time.

Voice of a generation. For real.

I read the point being a broader "manhood", not just a reductionist "masculinity".

Mayvelle Strupp - Crow Rooster, Crow!!!

Different shapes of movement for different shapes of movement. Literally different strokes for different folks.