Posted by Ronald Coleman on September 26, 1999 at 21:22:36:
In Reply to: Re: Dixieland/Moldy Figs/Netherlands posted by David Pierce on September 26, 1999 at 09:10:16:
Your posts reminded me of an afternoon in the early '90s, Central Texas, summer, hot; alone on our 100 acres (alone except for the mesquite and prickly pear, the cows and mules and rattlers and fire ants); cleaning brush-piles away from the tractor shed. A road runner stopped to watch me then ran, and a jack rabbit bounced by. Suddenly, through the rising waves of heat, the NPR announcer from the radio inside trailer spoke, and the woods and fields about me filled with the sieze-the-day sandpaper rasp of Jimmy Durante belting show tunes. The songs continued for two hours as I carried wood, and Durante was there with me, charging head forward over the stage of sawgrass and burrs and beneath the live oaks that cradled our trailer. That day, I had a sort of religious experince about Jimmy Durante. Later, alone in the dark, I lit a candle and cracked my first Vance: "City of the Chasch." When the candle burned out the book fell from my hands and I faded into sleep, and dreamed I was being stalked by a werewolf. I woke in a sweat. The full moon was shining through my window and coyotes were howling just below it. Feeling hot pains in my legs I struck a match and saw that fire ants had invaded the floor, the bed, the walls, the ceiling, indeed the entire trailer: they pulsed maliciously from every surface. I grabbed the only weapon at hand, "Chasch," and leaping to my feet proceeded to whack and pummel the ants until dawn, when I leaped into the station wagon, pulled out with pets stowed and U-Haul packed, and headed the hell out of Texas.
: Dear Jack,
: Jack Vance told me he's played the cornet now and then, which was the cause of a small disagreement between us, for he claims the cornet and trumpet are the same, whereas I know they are different in both shape and sound, having grown up with a Dixieland cornet and trumpet player for a dad. Anyway, I think I read somewhere, maybe in the cover of one of his mysteries, that he plays drums as well. What a versatile guy! We both share an intense admiration for Bix, and for the New Black Eagle Jazz Band; I envy you your chance to jam with him. Y'know, it seems many of The Greats play Dixieland: Woody Allen; S.I. Hayakawa (is he still alive?); that necromancer A. Greenspan; R. Crumb. What is it about this music that attracts the best and brightest? My theory: the music, based on the blues, is both deep and happy at the same time; it is complex, provocative...yet it swings. And each time it is played it is new. Jack, what are your instruments? BTW, I think it's no accident that in The Netherlands are to be found some of today's very best Dixieland jazz bands as well as the densest concentration of Vance fans anywhere. Must say, am very grateful for your post!!
: Regards,
: David Pierce
: : and croak out some snappy tunes, too. I played with him at the westercon in 198? a bit.. he only did ReaLLy old stuff.. pre 1930ish... he was a character worthy of one of his own books