Re: "A healthy musical ecosystem will support all the viewpoints, all the sounds, all the people, will have room, in other words, for Charlap, Iverson, Freeman, and Cecil Taylor...." To the extent that modern music criticism tends to be based on a small group of performers, there's a lot of work that needs to be done, going forward. Down Beat quoted $200 for a "review" of one of my recordings. Any payment from me to an alleged journalist taints the entire process. Critical press, conflated with paid advertising. Cash flow, in the wrong direction. Keep practicing. JA
I don't think Phil Freeman has a sense of humor at all, nor does he advance the conversation. His original comment was neither funny nor insightful and he followed it up with one to the effect that musicians playing standards should "play for tips at the Holiday Inn.' I guess that's supposed to funny, but it seems disrespectful and hurtful to a whole bunch of musicians. Especially Bill Charlap.
Chronicles is committed to a plurality of views. Phil’s comment made me laugh and sent me happily to Charlap’s wonderful new album, but I’m sympathetic to your opinion Fred. Thanks for reading and commenting.
If Freeman had said, I don't like all-standards albums" and proceeded to demonstrate why in a mature manner, I would have no problem. Instead he wrote a rant/temper tantrum which is the kind of thing that passes for high discourse in some corners of the internet. Amusing? I guess that's according to taste. Enlightening? Not so much.
i don't think his focus was on having a sense of humour, but on the general thrust of his viewpoint which ethan happened to agree with.. i do too fwiw...how is playing standards moving the music forward? it is more like recreating a museum piece... there is nothing wrong with that either, but i don't think it holds the same vitality that is possible and is happening with those creating their own compositions, music, jazz or otherwise..
I'm skeptical of the idea that innovation ("moving the music forward") is a nobler goal than simply playing beautiful or otherwise moving, satisfying music. I’d even say the latter is a precondition of the former but not the other way around.
i think that is built into either as far as the musician or composer is concerned.. i don't think they are separate... here we are getting caught up in words, lol..
I trust when you write up your chronicle on Bill Stewart you’ll mention his collaboration with Nicholas Payton. Not sure they’ve recorded but I saw them in concert with Vicente Archer, great stuff!
comment from the freddie deboer article that you linked to which i like -
"Writers who work in media, defined broadly, have an intrinsic professional responsibility to be willing to say unpopular things, especially things unpopular with other members of the profession"
Re: "A healthy musical ecosystem will support all the viewpoints, all the sounds, all the people, will have room, in other words, for Charlap, Iverson, Freeman, and Cecil Taylor...." To the extent that modern music criticism tends to be based on a small group of performers, there's a lot of work that needs to be done, going forward. Down Beat quoted $200 for a "review" of one of my recordings. Any payment from me to an alleged journalist taints the entire process. Critical press, conflated with paid advertising. Cash flow, in the wrong direction. Keep practicing. JA
Thanks for the reality check James. Much work to be done indeed. Appreciate you reading and commenting.
Thanks, Vinnie. The scene here in the Bay Area has become more severe, with each passing year. I'm staying the course. Best, JA
I don't think Phil Freeman has a sense of humor at all, nor does he advance the conversation. His original comment was neither funny nor insightful and he followed it up with one to the effect that musicians playing standards should "play for tips at the Holiday Inn.' I guess that's supposed to funny, but it seems disrespectful and hurtful to a whole bunch of musicians. Especially Bill Charlap.
Chronicles is committed to a plurality of views. Phil’s comment made me laugh and sent me happily to Charlap’s wonderful new album, but I’m sympathetic to your opinion Fred. Thanks for reading and commenting.
If Freeman had said, I don't like all-standards albums" and proceeded to demonstrate why in a mature manner, I would have no problem. Instead he wrote a rant/temper tantrum which is the kind of thing that passes for high discourse in some corners of the internet. Amusing? I guess that's according to taste. Enlightening? Not so much.
i don't think his focus was on having a sense of humour, but on the general thrust of his viewpoint which ethan happened to agree with.. i do too fwiw...how is playing standards moving the music forward? it is more like recreating a museum piece... there is nothing wrong with that either, but i don't think it holds the same vitality that is possible and is happening with those creating their own compositions, music, jazz or otherwise..
I'm skeptical of the idea that innovation ("moving the music forward") is a nobler goal than simply playing beautiful or otherwise moving, satisfying music. I’d even say the latter is a precondition of the former but not the other way around.
i think that is built into either as far as the musician or composer is concerned.. i don't think they are separate... here we are getting caught up in words, lol..
I trust when you write up your chronicle on Bill Stewart you’ll mention his collaboration with Nicholas Payton. Not sure they’ve recorded but I saw them in concert with Vicente Archer, great stuff!
comment from the freddie deboer article that you linked to which i like -
"Writers who work in media, defined broadly, have an intrinsic professional responsibility to be willing to say unpopular things, especially things unpopular with other members of the profession"