Imitation Jazz

It is reported that American jazz still keeps its popularity in Europe, which is all the more astonishing when you consider the sort of thing t that passes for " American jazz." Of course, some of the jazz orchestras have American musicians, but most have not, especially in countries like Germany, Austria, Italy. The jazz orchestra of natives is usually made up of good musicians, fellows competent to play in symphony orchestras. They play the notes of their jazz scores like good musicians--on the beat, strict time, precise rhythm. They have not the remotest idea of the perversions of the time beats that gives jazz its peculiar flavor--naturally, because they are good musicians trained to the sacred principle of accurate rhythm, the foundation of good symphony playing. They do, however, go in for American noise. The severely played jazz is a frightful row, stiff, harsh and unattractive. It is even worse than the genuine American jazz, though it does not so greatly offend the refined instincts of accurate time of those bred to high music.