The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #58230 Message #2716002
Posted By: Jack Blandiver
04-Sep-09 - 06:00 AM
Thread Name: Who Defines 'Folk'????
Subject: RE: Who Defines 'Folk'????
I would say that Sun Ra defines Jazz more than Ellington does; Ellington took it only so far (though on Money Jungle shows how he could go) but Mr Ra (who came up through Fetcher Henderson) took it as far back as Ancient Egypt and as far out as Saturn, covering the entire tradition of jazz along the way. Ellington I love dearly - the reason I don't believe in God is because I can't conceive of a greater divinity than that of The Piano Player. Maybe Ra is the anti-Christ of jazz, but he returns it to where it's meant to be.
Is there anyone comparable in Folk? Well, unlike Jazz, the entire concept of Folk Music is a contrived cultural myth, but it has thrown up some amazing music along the way. None of it as amazing as Duke Ellington or Sun Ra, but I'd say the deal was covered by three individuals: Seamus Ennis, Peter Bellamy and Jim Eldon.
In America I'd say either Jack Langstaff or maybe John Jacob Niles!