And the program itself wasn't much better, with some young chanteuse claiming to be a Waller aficionado--yet slamming his organ work and talking over the records.
My feeling is that the BBC is striving to be as dumb as our own media--and succeeding in that endeavor.
While tempted, I'll leave my political observations of The BBC to some other blog.....
As for this musical event, I'm saddened when people go through the effort of producing such a tribute, but don't do the time-consuming efforts to make sure the presentation is presented properly. That includes proof-reading the promos...
"Fats" Waller is one of the true geniuses of music....The "Mozart If Jazz" to many...he deserved a much better effort.
When Bluebird/BMG began issuing their Waller CD series in the 1990's, I spent hours and hours listening & re-listening to each track, trying to find the lesser-known gems and to make sure the vital classic sides were included {of course, I had four-hour programming blocks available, so time was not much of a constraint}...boy, was it worth it! I must have produced five or six Waller shows, all very well received...
As for talking over the recordings....yes, both commercial & non-commercial hosts are supposed to talk over most intros & extros, and to use crossfades to stamp a station/program image on the programming, as well as to discourage recording & distribution of music off-air {a tip of the cap to the recording industry}. But when it is overdone and detracts from the music, it just ruins it all....sad.
I recall in Will Friedwald's "Jazz Singing" his view that the covering of Buddy Cole's organ backing to several 1950's Bing Crosby tracks for 1970's release was the result of a British phobia about organ music, particularly jazz organ recordings....maybe the trashing of Waller's superb pipe organ work is a result of that "phobia"....
Definitely. By talking over recordings I don't mean the usual intro/outro commentary. This gal was breaking into the records to make inane remarks, and was audibly giggling through Fats' organ solo.
Oddly, some people seem to have enjoyed this show, and thought the gal "charming." Maybe I'm getting to be too much of a curmudgeon.
Now, mind you, I'm the first to giggle & guffaw over some of "Fats'" comedy...he was a riot on The Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy Show....but to laugh open-miked over his organ solos????
Strange goings on....but no stranger, Andy, than "Slide Sax Master" {couldn't that be the official description of The Guy Lombardo sax group?}
5 comments:
Nothing better than pure ignorance....
...but enough about the current state of our Nation's politics!
And the program itself wasn't much better, with some young chanteuse claiming to be a Waller aficionado--yet slamming his organ work and talking over the records.
My feeling is that the BBC is striving to be as dumb as our own media--and succeeding in that endeavor.
While tempted, I'll leave my political observations of The BBC to some other blog.....
As for this musical event, I'm saddened when people go through the effort of producing such a tribute, but don't do the time-consuming efforts to make sure the presentation is presented properly.
That includes proof-reading the promos...
"Fats" Waller is one of the true geniuses of music....The "Mozart If Jazz" to many...he deserved a much better effort.
When Bluebird/BMG began issuing their Waller CD series in the 1990's, I spent hours and hours listening & re-listening to each track, trying to find the lesser-known gems and to make sure the vital classic sides were included {of course, I had four-hour programming blocks available, so time was not much of a constraint}...boy, was it worth it! I must have produced five or six Waller shows, all very well received...
As for talking over the recordings....yes, both commercial & non-commercial hosts are supposed to talk over most intros & extros, and to use crossfades to stamp a station/program image on the programming, as well as to discourage recording & distribution of music off-air {a tip of the cap to the recording industry}. But when it is overdone and detracts from the music, it just ruins it all....sad.
I recall in Will Friedwald's "Jazz Singing" his view that the covering of Buddy Cole's organ backing to several 1950's Bing Crosby tracks for 1970's release was the result of a British phobia about organ music, particularly jazz organ recordings....maybe the trashing of Waller's superb pipe organ work is a result of that "phobia"....
"The Harmful Little Armful"...he deserves better!
Definitely. By talking over recordings I don't mean the usual intro/outro commentary. This gal was breaking into the records to make inane remarks, and was audibly giggling through Fats' organ solo.
Oddly, some people seem to have enjoyed this show, and thought the gal "charming." Maybe I'm getting to be too much of a curmudgeon.
I can only imagine.....
Now, mind you, I'm the first to giggle & guffaw over some of "Fats'" comedy...he was a riot on The Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy Show....but to laugh open-miked over his organ solos????
Strange goings on....but no stranger, Andy, than "Slide Sax Master" {couldn't that be the official description of The Guy Lombardo sax group?}
Post a Comment