But I digress; the point is, I disagree with the overall tone of this Duke anniversary show. You have attempted to frame swing in the context of death, whether it be the death of the American empire or swing itself. I feel that negative tone contradicts the whole idea of swing, not to mention this show. Swing is not something you can box in the era you guys conveniently lived in – swing is a philosophy. I’ve recently seen people swing and swung myself to certain hip-hop songs and even a country song last night. When two or three people are in a truly stimulating conversation, they are swinging; when two loved ones are making meaningful love, they are swinging.

I also want to push back against the fatalistic idea about America I’ve been hearing in Open Source. I get it, you guys think our empire has ended, what I haven’t been hearing from you is, what if your wrong. Lets explore the hopeful possibilities about the American nature that might let us persevere. I for one am optimistic that we haven’t yet tasted all the fruits of our culture of diversity. Soon, our country will right it self to the left, and we will be back on a course of hope, eschewing fear. In this American future the best of us will swing, we may well swing to a different drummer, but the beat will remain the same.

The fact that you were dealing with all of this wonderful stuff is EXACTLY why I love Open Source! Loved it!

I don’t know how you feel about Ken Burn’s PBS Jazz opus but it is always wonderful to be reminded how deeply glorious – ABSOLUTELY GLORIOUS – this music is.

I feel I am in the room at the signing of the DECLARATION of INDEPENDENCE when I hear Duke Ellington (though Charlie Parker is what takes my breath away!)

Playing the music alone is NOT enough – YOU are right to TALK IT UP! Don’t forget that we live in swingless times, totally RED STATE FOX NEWS CRAPPY GRUMPY times!

IF playing the music were enough we would not need the Ken Burns production so much (which is amazingy wonderful – it introduced me to Lester Young, who breaks my heart – I can’t tell you!)

I agree that the OS show didn’t quite swing. But it was not your fault! It was Stanley Crouch, who – sad to say it – really hasn’t been in a swinging mood for some years.

Eric Jackson IS a local treasure and he brought real “swing” into the whole thing. Think about it, what would we do without him?

The music of optimism needs all the evangelists it can get THESE DAYS! It is a deep, hopeful, wonderful, positive AMERICAN sound.

DAMN, AND WE OWN IT !

Chris, and Mary, You Keep Swinging, man!

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