Texas Hot Jazz

What's New At TexasHotJazz.com

We've just finished a facelift on TexasHotJazz.com.  We hope the new menu arrangement will make it easier for you to find what you are looking for.

If you are a musician or a jammer, be certain to check out the "Musician's Menu".  That is where you will find the fakebooks, practice tracks, and other downloadable stuff.  

The "Forum" is for all of you who like to express your own opinion or ask a question.  Or you can just browse around to see what other trad musicians and fans have to say.  For now the forum is empty, so why don't you be one of the first to post a message.  There are lots of things in the planning stage for TexasHotJazz.com.  The forum is a good place for you to make suggestions about what you would like to see here.

Jim

Andy Blake Photo Exhibit Opens at Star Coffee

Our good friend and "Pitcher Taker Extraordinaire", Andy Blake has an exhibition of his work at Star Coffee.  Andy's Open House for the exhibit will be this Thursday from 6:00 to 7:00pm - just before our monthly Tons Of Fun Jam.

You will want to come say "Hello" to Andy and browse through his work.  Then, of course, stay for the jam session that begins at 7:00!

When the TOF Jam first began, Andy spent a lot of time taking photographs of the musicians. He is a sax player himself and occasionally sits in for a tune or two.

I think you will enjoy seeing his photos. They will be on display in the Gallery Room at Star throughout the month.  Here is a small preview!
 

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Washington and Lee Swing

1910

Mark W. Sheafe, Clarence A. (Tod) Robbins, and Thornton W. Allen

There can't be more than a handful of high schools in the U.S. that do not use either Washington and Lee Swing or The Notre Dame Victory March as their fight song. On any given Friday night during football season, this song is probably heard more than any million selling pop tune ever written.

Washington and Lee Swing is also popular with dixieland and swing musicians and has been performed and recorded by almost everyone at one time or another. Sadly, many of the recordings are of the type that give "dixieland jazz" a corny connotation in the minds of many. 

The song was originally composed in compound (6/8) meter, but most jazz versions are in simple meter with two beats per bar.  In form, this is a standard 32 bar march trio. There is no bridge. Normally the tempo is quite up, but the song also works well at a more sedate marching tempo. The melody is straight forward and easy to sing. That probably goes a long way toward it's popularity.  

The tune is popular with bluegrass groups as well as dixieland bands. In fact when searching YouTube for an example, the bluegrass versions seemed more musical and less corny than the jazz versions.  Here is a performance that is neither bluegrass nor dixieland. This is big band recording featuring Louis Armstrong. It was recorded 1n 1937 during a radio show.

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