Untitled

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 47, 17 May 1940, Page 30

The Editor, "The Listener." Sir,-Your enthusiastic correspondent, R.J.H., is tight to defend the cause of Jazz, but he will do it harm if he does not learn more about his own subject. It is amusing to read that someone has told him that Tchaikovski nominated Benny Goodmam ‘the world’s’ greatest ‘clarinet player. Poor old Tchaik.. has been. dead since 1893 (God rest his soul). R.J.H. is probably confusing this composer with a modern Hungarian whose music he would undoubtedly loathe and condemn (it is good of course).. This composer wrote a Rhapsody for Goodman to play with Szigeti, the violinist. R.J:H. produces a very fine argument to prove the masculinity of male crooners: "Bing Crosby . «+ was a law student in an American University." Has. it occurred to R.J.H. that Bing Crosby might have been a co-ed? In which case his sex would remain "undefined! But we all know what he means of course — that Crosby is the father of a large fesatly. ~ ‘Then the Names executants of jazz as "regular going, «intelligent people like their neighbours." I could name-a*few symphony orchestras, hundreds strong, made up of just those same ordinary going people, so what about it? His statement that "jazz has. évolved into a very high form of musical art" can be exploded in ‘two hot licks by anyone with just a smatte of musical knowledge, who can produce "music from centuries back that is more highly evolved than even the music of Baline, Confrey, Livingstone, and other less picturesque comof to-day, and just as. exciting. His evidence that Stokowski’s first fiddle left the Symphony to get "more fun". is awry. "More money" would: be nearer the point

However, R.J.H.’s resistance piece is his reference to the jazz orchestra’s "orthodox trumpets," etc. May I say that we all have orthodox tongues; but some of us make rude noises with them while others talk pleasantly, with well chosen words. Yours, ete.,

A.

A.

Christchurch, May 3, 1940.