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Thread ID: 43941 2004-04-01 09:05:00 Off Topic. HTOTW#13, Blow hot, blow cool. Terry Porritt (14) Press F1
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226544 2004-04-01 09:05:00 Just a reminder that HTOTW stands for Hot Tunes of the Week. This means popular dance and jazz music from the 1920s and early 30s.

Real Player is needed to listen to the streaming audio links as that is the format used by most of the sites where the HTOTW come from.

Regular readers/listeners to HTOTW will know that I have a hang up about the current widespread and meaningless use of the word 'cool'. They will also know that it didnt always have the meaning that it does today among the young, and, sad to say among the not so young either, who would appear that they have to ape the teenagers, so as to be seen to be'with it', ie. be 'cool' :D

So instead of looking at some British bands as I had intended, we will listen to some hot jazz, and for a change, some hot music from 1920s black jazz bands, and, horror of horrors a snatch of 'cool'.

But first up, to save me expounding on the origins of Cool, for those who want a read here are 2 sites that give the background to the origin and use of the word 'cool'.
"The Birth of the Cool" (www.catalog-of-cool.com), and this one, The Truth About "Cool" (www.wintermittens.com), both are excellent reading.

Now I'm no expert at all in Cool music as I hate it, thus don't even listen to it to find out what its all about.

This clip (www.content.loudeye.com) from 'The Birth of Cool' with Miles Davis,is so COOL as to leave me completely COLD :). Note it takes a little while to load.

Ugh........

Now to some really hot stuff, what better than Louis Armstrong and his HOT Five in 1926, Cornet Chop Suey (www.redhotjazz.com).
This really takes me back to my early days of listening with earphones on one of my home made TRF receivers to Huges Pannassie, President de Hot-Club de France, and his monday night jazz program from RTF Paris in the late 40s and early 50s. Cornet Chop Suey was the signature tune.

Now what about Jelly Roll Morton and His Red HOT Peppers also in 1926, lots to choose from, but here is Shreveport Stomp (www.redhotjazz.com).

This one, also The HOT Five has to be Armstrongs most seminal recording of all time, West End Blues (www.redhotjazz.com), from 1928, need I say more?
Well,just a little, this recording made such an impact world wide that when Armstrong went to England around 1932? or so, the English audience were expecting him to be still playing Hot Five music. Of course musically,he had moved on in the intervening years to the big band era and was more more of a showman. Sadly the unappreciative audience booed him on the opening night.

Let's end with this piece from Erskine Tates Vendome Orchestra in 1926 Stomp Off Let's Go (www.redhotjazz.com), and they did :)
Terry Porritt (14)
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