Rok, I am afraid that your "opinion" is based on some inaccuracies and mistaken assumptions; I am not sure where to start. I hope that pointing these out is not felt to be breaking some "detente" and I'm sure you will appreciate some accuracy.
****Why were all the East Coast guys black and all the West Coast guys white?****
While it is true that most practicioners of "West Coast Jazz" were white, not "all" were; Buddy Collette, Benny Carter, Chico Hamilton and Red Callender, to name a few, were black.
****So, if I were a second rate horn player where would I go to earn fame and fortune? I could go to LA where Jazz had no history or establishment****
The idea that only second rate players were found in LA is absolutely not true and very unfair to the many great players who hailed from LA and were part of a movement in jazz that reflected a different stylistic aesthetic from that of the East Coast and not a reflection of lesser quality. Additionally, it is not true that in LA jazz had no history or establishment. There had always been a vibrant Jazz scene in LA with traditional jazz playing a very prominent role. Even your fave Jelly Roll lived in LA for many years.
LA was, in fact, were many great musicians went to "gain fortune". Many of the great LA jazz players were also very successful session players in the LA movie studios recording for the countless movie scores being produced. Unfortunately, that scene was racially segregated during the 40s and 50s, but players/arrangers like Benny Carter were able to change that situation for themselves and all that followed. There is an interesting connection between the existence of the Hollywood scene and the West Coast Jazz style. In keeping with, and perhaps as a result of, the demands of the movie industry for very well crafted and extended compositions for their movie scores, the West Coast Jazz style highlights the compositional elements of the music much more than the East Coast (hard)bop style which is typically that of a simple pass through the melody followed by improvised solos. The West Coast style features more intricate compositions with elements of Classical counterpoint and it was the first time that the very demanding concept of a jazz ensemble without a chordal instrument (piano, organ, guitar) was implemented; all this with a typically softer ("cool") instrumental tone approach as opposed to the harder edged East Coast style. Does this make it jazz that is less "real" and the other more real? Since when do the French decide what is real jazz? 😊
Oh, and btw, Benny Goodman was never crowned "King Of Jazz", he was first called "King Of Swing" in 1936; and for good reason. Swing (a very specific style of jazz) and the Swing Era was touched off by Benny Goodman well before most of the great players one can name. For perspective's sake, Bird recorded his first record in 1944.
Cheers.
