Alex,
I did not mean to imply that Beethoven was a genius because he composed great music when he was deaf. I should have said, "even after he became deaf." All his music was great.
Yes, I sometimes hear music in my head, but not with four solo voices with chorus and full symphony orchestra. Nor do I write it down and then conduct the finished work. (Ninth Symphony [Ode to Joy]).
Yes, I consider this a big deal.
Sometimes we confuse "child prodigy" with genius, or label a virtuoso talent "genius". I think Bix was neither a child prodigy or virtuoso. His strength was his ability to extemporaneously play, sometimes with only a head arrangement, incredibily crafted, inventive, searingly beautiful lines on the spot! Then do another take and improvise a completely different solo of equal beauty. This ability plus with his gorgeous tone and bell-like attack, made him unique among his peers.
We call him a genius, while acknowledging that this term is hard to define.
Benny Goodman, for example, was both a child prodigy and a virtuoso on his instrument. But hard work was the key to his success. (I paraphrase Russ Connor's words in the following): When BG recorded his first classical album after achieving popular success as "The King of Swing", he breezed into a Chicago studio after an overnight bus trip, and sat in cold with the Pro Arte Quartet; full of confidence, blowing with the same reed he used the previous night on a dance gig. He blew a few bars and promptly walked out. "You know, they were nice guys. They just sat there and didn't do a thing to humiliate me." Connor continues: "For this reading Benny practiced diligently, haunted music shops for the perfect reed, sought criticism from other clarinetists. When he entered Victor's New York Studion No.2 this time, he was prepared." (April 25, 1938, Quintette for Clarinet and Strings, VI 1885A and B.)
Jim