Hey Lewis, Maybe for Bird, Teddy Hale's dance steps served a similar function to the McShann band: a rhythmic floor—a clatter on which Bird himself could “dance.” Many of the New Orleans guys (Joe Oliver included) incorporated the rhythm of dancers’ feet into their sound. To understand Bird, I think it essential to listen to him with McShann. PG
All great points--everyone talks about the connection of jazz with dancers, but nobody has anything specific to say about it--you're bringing some insight to it. (Bird never worked with Hale outside of this brief TV show, but your point about McShann etc still holds of course.) THANK YOU PETER!
Hey Lewis, Maybe for Bird, Teddy Hale's dance steps served a similar function to the McShann band: a rhythmic floor—a clatter on which Bird himself could “dance.” Many of the New Orleans guys (Joe Oliver included) incorporated the rhythm of dancers’ feet into their sound. To understand Bird, I think it essential to listen to him with McShann. PG
All great points--everyone talks about the connection of jazz with dancers, but nobody has anything specific to say about it--you're bringing some insight to it. (Bird never worked with Hale outside of this brief TV show, but your point about McShann etc still holds of course.) THANK YOU PETER!