For what it's worth, I tried to use Mudcat's internal search feature to find previous threads about jazz or comments about jazz that were in other threads. Entering the key word "jazz" resulted in no hits, but when I entered the key words "jazz songs", I got several hits. However most of them are for comments that may mention the word "jazz" but aren't
really about that musical genre. For example, here's a comment that I wrote in a thread about Marching Bands-Traditions and Aesthetics

"It seems to me that the predominately Black bands played more music from R&B, hip-hop, pop music. These tunes were usually contemporary {meaning the latest hit song} but they might also be a golden oldie {a popular "old school" song}. The predominately Black band might also play music from Black religious traditions such as a familiar gospel song or a Dixieland jazz song. Perhaps the predominately White bands also chose songs that were from their traditions-it seemed to me that they were usually classical concert type songs or more classical jazz songs

{Note: In the case of the Madison Scouts, a number of viewers of their YouTube videos mentioned that this group used to be known for playing arrangements of Latin or Jazz tunes...Perhaps that is why they were my favorite Drum & Bugle corp groups when I used to watch the televised national marching band competitions in the 1980s}.

-snip-

In contrast, here's a link to one of the few Mudcat threads about jazz that I found [Is there really so few Mudcat threads about jazz? That surprises me.]

thread.cfm?threadid=46005#680933
Kid Ory--The Jass Original

Since its relevant to our larger discussion about race and jazz, I'm going to take the liberty of reposting this comment from one of Mudcat's beloved members who is no longer with us and who I unfortunately never had the pleasure of meeting:

Subject: RE: Kid Ory--The Jass Original
From: Rick Fielding - PM
Date: 04 Apr 02 - 11:34 AM

Back in pre-history, when I was first starting to listen to "roots" music* I also noticed that several New Orleans jazz musicians in those early pictures looked quite caucasian. being 15 at the time I just figured that in New Orleans the bands must have been integrated by then. Silly me....didn't know anything about Creole backgrounds or the incredible diversity in that part of Louisiana.
One of the great 'reads' of my life was a book called "Really, The Blues", by Mezz Mezzrow. He's become one of my favourite characters. A white jewish kid from the mid-west, he was a hustler, dope dealer, band organizer, and (very shaky) clarinet player. He became totally obsessed with preserving the 'original' jazz sound, and wanted to be black so badly that he gave his race as 'negro' on driver's licenses, union cards, and passports.

He wasn't thought of too highly if you read others' accounts of the era, probably (and this is just my guess) 'cause he was a real 'in your face guy', tolerated because he supplied the grass (he called them "mezz-rolls") and often pissed off 'cause his lack of consistent musical skills got him bounced from a lot of bands....UNTIL......

He moved to Europe.....and The French LOVED him! He hooked up with Sidney Bechet and had quite a successful recording carreer into the forties.

His connection with Ory? (other than the fact that they knew each other well) Ory was a great ensemble player but often on recordings his solos were thought to be pretty unimaginative. Like Mezzrow, the Kid was at his best live, apparently.

I'm paraphrasing from some of the writings of Lil Armstrong, Eddie Condon, and Danny Barker.

Cheers

Rick