The record changer (Feb-Dec 1943)

13. being the deciding factor in my judgement. Alderson Fry and Clifton Cuthbert will testify to my complete astonishment at finding in my own collection the Paramount version of the side. It is to be regretted that this revelation did not prompt me to make a further investigation including correspondence with other collectors, but it was already too late to get the column in before the deadline. I have made the above admissions and statements in recognition of my responsibility as a critic and writer to the collectors who read my column. I concur with Mr. Williams as regards the responsibility of columnists and admit to having committed a flagrant violation of my own rule about being careful in supplying personnel data. In the future I will endeavor to exercise more care in my reports. By exercising more care in my reports, I do not mean to infer that I will not voice my own opinions as to personnels. I intend to state my own opinions with or without qualifying reservations when I have decided after careful consideration and investigation that I am right. I say this in confidence that my ear for jazz is sound and reliable. This should not be construed as a reply to Mr. Williams' comparison of his ear with mine. I am not familiar with the merits of Mr. Williams' ear but after reading his article, I will suggest that his tongue might be sharper than his ear. It seems that Mr. Williams is in arms over my pronouncement that the Keppard Paramount indisputably has Podds on clarinet. This is understandable as this time it is he who is out on a limb, having printed on the label of the Keppard reissue O'Bryant's name as clarinet player. I submit that my carefully considered opinion is that it is not 0' Bryant but Dodds on the Keppard disc and that my opinion is far from unsupported. Several prominent collectors, critics and writers side with me in this matter and moreover, Mr. Williams was aware of all this before he reissued the Keppard disc. Mr. Williams' theory that 0 'Bryant played on the Keppard disc does not stand up very well against a comparison of O'Bryant's work with Dodds' of a similar period and on the same Paramount labeL It is no secret that 0 'Bryant imitated Podds, probably to the best of his ability. That is obvious upon playing of several Paramount records under O' Bryant's name. But if after playing several O'Bryant Paramount records, one plays any one of five or six Paramount records featuring Dodds, he will note an unmistakeable difference and the comparison is not very flattering to O'Bryant. I feel safe in saying that if there is such a thing as second-class Dodds (and I am not at all convinced there is) it is still better than the very best O'Bryant. As to Mr. Williams statement that Jaspar Taylor furnished the only authentic source of information as to personell on the item in question, I must point out that the record shows musicians' memories to be a variable factor, having been in many cases completely in error. Looking over the label of the J.I. Keppard reissue, I do not see any mention of a tentative personnel, subject to correction. I submit that Mr. Williams has been guilty of an error of the same kind for which he has so severely indicted me, and that his error is of more consequence than mine. Advertising Rates RECORDS WANTED 5^ EACH, OH 25 FOR $ I .00, R.ECOROS FOR SALE, TRADE OR AUCTION 10( EACH, OR 25 FOR $2.00. RECORDS FOR SALE OR TRADE, AND VALUED AT Si. 00 OR LESS 5tf EACH. full page ads (72 lines high, 100 spaces wide) 39.00 half page ads $5.00 special auctions, sales, want lists a no combination want and disposition lists iqi.ser line. Subscription Rate $1.00 per year The Record Changer (note new address) FAIRFAX, VA.