Re: Whatayagonnado

Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2003 14:30:53 GMT
Newsgroups: rec.music.bluenote
Size: 4,102 bytes

"Nick" <email-address-deleted> wrote in message
news:email-address-deleted...
> "Glenn Wilson" <email-address-deleted> wrote in message
news:<bWfRa.3841$email-address-deleted>...
>
> Glenn, I appreciate your thoughtful post, and I agree with much of
> what you said, but I don't think it's fair to call Sum1 ignorant
> because he didn't like the Wayne Shorter and thought its success might
> be due to marketing hype.
Nick - I didn't call him ignorant. I said it was an ignorant post. There's
a big difference.
Wayne Shorter has had arguably one of the greatest jazz careers in the
history of the music. From Maynard Ferguson to Blakey to Miles to Weather
Report with all his solo projects sprinkeled in along the way. His
compositions which have become jazz standarss would fill a book. Sum1's
suggestion about this being a 'sympathy vote', etc. is an ignorant
statement. A better approach would be "I don't understand this recording.
Why is it significant?" Then a discussion could follow and he might learn
something. That's the difference. Have a little respect, that's all I'm
asking.
?Implying that Sum1's
> "ignorance" is because he doesn't "understand" the music fosters the
> notion that this group is only for elite, technically knowledgeable
> musicians, all of whom "know better."
I disagree. He doesn't understand the music at all and YES, it's music for
jazz fans who understand the creative process, who understand the history of
the music and most of all who knows Wayne's music and can appreciate the way
he changed his tunes from their original concept to something totally
different. That takes a lot of balls. Wayne could have come out and played
all those tunes the same way he originally recorded them. Now that might
have been a sympathy vote or a lifetime achivement award. But he chose to
deconstruct the tunes and allow the creative abilities of the musicians to
dictate a certain direction. That's creative improvisation. That's JAZZ.
I happen to be a pro musician
> with decades of experience (and btw, I didn't like the Wayne Shorter
> either), and would like to see more of those types contribute, but
> let's not make others feel unwelcome, particularly because they happen
> to have a politically incorrect opinion.
I'm sorry you don't like the CD. It's not everyones cup of tea. Like any
great jazz, you must meet it halfway. It's not entertainment that you put
on in the car or at a party. It's serious jazz music and should be treated
as such. I don't think 'politically corect' has much to do with it.. The
reason the CD has received so much attention from the press and especially
musicians, is that is a creative, organic work which, obviously because it's
live, shows a master group of musicians at work, interpreting orginal
compositions in a new and vibrant way. And I've heard other concerts from
the tour and no two versions of any of the tunes are alike. Of course,
because the music is created in the moment. That's JAZZ.
>
> In addition to technical things like analyzing solos, I'm also
> interested in topics surrounding the business of jazz (and music in
> general). I recall a well-populated thread a few years back about how
> much jazz musicians should, and do, get paid, and that was quite
> instructive. Haven't seen much of that recently, though. I like the
> articles Sum1's submits on smooth jazz because even if the music
> component isn't up my alley, they often have some sociological or
> business component that is worthwhile. I wish more people would
> contribute similar articles on other aspects of jazz and the jazz
> business. Maybe with more of this type of content, the pros who have
> strayed will come back to the fold.
>
I also enjoy Sum1's postings from articles etc. It's just that lately he's
been so attacked for his position, he's been forced to resort to misquoting
Nat Hentoff, etc. to try to prove a point. Once an agenda is established
like that, it pretty much precludes any useful discussion.
Thanks for your comments.
Glenn
www.jazzmaniac.com