OP would have enjoyed any clip of Gershwin's playing as much as I do. And, yes, I am a certified American Black Man who knew OP on a personal level.

It may have been crappy and demeaning, but it is the truth of those times, everyone should learn to just deal with what WAS and appreciate what IS now without resorting to what amounts to even more of the division IMO.

However, I'm not so sure that this clip is actually "blackface" -- I think it is not. Perhaps a suntan or something, his nose is certainly rosing the film white. Anyway, it is NOT the contemporary blackface of America at that time, which was typically done with charcoal black, not an overall darkening that included the hands anyway. Beware always of those who throw down the racecard, from any direction. They are the ones with agenda. I'm just a musician who was born AFTER those trying times. As I'm sure are most of you. Thank God.

That's Gershwin.

As a pianist, I just listen and try to emulate.

There is still a lot to be learned from doing that, even with the Modern Jazz of today.

Of course, OP (and Nat, and everybody else) had Art Tatum as mentor and setter of the standard.

Nuff. Said.


--Mac

[This message has been edited by --Mac (edited 08-07-2009).]