Re: Jazz

Date: 04 Jun 2003 07:56:47 GMT
Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.jazz
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Peter H.M. Brooks writes:
<< People have said to me...that the French Horn is not a jazz instrument. >>
1.) <rant>Anyone remarking about what is or is not a "jazz instrument" probably
doesn't know much about jazz. First, because "jazz" has nothing to do with
instrumentation (although there are certain instrumentations which are
"typical" of jazz); and second, because there has been a noteworthy jazz
soloist for virtually every instrument I can think of. Such comments -- "X
isn't a jazz instrument," or "Y isn't a jazz musician" -- are exactly the sort
of pointless, academic masturbation that get all jazz fans labeled as stuffy,
elitist snobs.</rant>
2.) Many big bands, past and present, have utilized French horns. Stephanie
Fauber and Peter Reit leap to mind, as notable French horn players. Christine
Chapman, Pip List, Isabelle van de Wiele, Roel Koster, Willie Ruff, Christoph
Krane...no, I didn't Google, I just own a lot of big band records. :-)
3.) Mark Taylor has been a relatively high-profile French horn player on the
jazz scene. He has recorded for MapleShade, Accurate, Black Saint, etc.; and he
has recorded with Orange Then Blue, Henry Threadgill, and Oliver Lake.
<< Surely jazz is not so fossilized that it can't change over time? >>
I certainly hope you're right! ;-)
crib