[Dixielandjazz] MILES DAVIS (yet again)

[fred spencer]

Steve,
Your point that to know something about the musicians and their careers improves
the enjoyment of the music is true for me too. To follow the evolution of jazz and
its styles is an absorbing topic. Without this interest, I would never have written
my book, Jazz and Death, Medical Profiles of Jazz Greats, in which I have corrected
some of the errors and myths from Scott Joplin to Miles Davis and beyond. Please
continue the NYT jazz news. Your "marketing" venture merits congratulations. My
best wishes for a Happy New Year.
Fred

Stephen Barbone wrote:

> Hi Jerry:
>
> I will say this just one time. I already know more about both the music of
> Miles Davis and the persona that was Miles Davis than all of the DJML combined
> except for guys like Jim Beebe and the other real jazz musicians on the list.
> His music may stand on its own, but understanding the man who produced it is, I
> think, of great interest to a great many jazz fans, some of whom are on the
> DJML.
>
> "Listen to Birth of the Cool to learn about Miles?" You can't be serious. That
> makes no sense to any of the non professional musicians on the list, who would
> learn nothing about Miles Davis just by listening. As for me, when I want to
> know something, I try and look at the sum total of all the parts, or the man.
> And how else would you know about past history without reading about it?
> Listening alone is a very one dimensional way to go about understanding a man
> and his music, and may produce nothing more than "I like that" or "I don't like
> that." No real understanding of the form or the substance.
>
> I was just trying to make a point nicely.(for me) That people who don't know a
> damn thing about certain forms of music, or the musicians who play them, or the
> writers who write about them, or how these musos lived, should really not show
> their ignorance by spouting off a quick, smug, opinion. After all, the article
> was about the man, not a treatise on English Literature.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone
>
> Jazzjerry@aol.com wrote:
>
> > In a message dated 29/12/02 11:08:25 PM, barbonestreet@earthlink.net writes:
> >
> > <<  specifically
> > inserted it at the beginning it to protect you from wasting your time on
> > "claptrap, cakes and cake stands" and any exposure to the life, times,
> > witty sayings and jazz music of one Miles Davis, aka the "Prince of
> > Darkness." ;-) >>
> >
> > Come off it Steve. I don't think either John or I were complaining about the
> > exposure to Miles Davis just the absolute drivel that is written about him.
> > His music can stand alone without the help of the so-called experts who seem
> > to live in a self perpetuating world of pretentious claptrap. If you want to
> > learn about Miles Davis listen to 'Birth of The Cool' or some of his other
> > recordings. Don't waste your time, energy and money on the sort of stuff
> > written by this man Shatz (Is that the past tense of a bodily function
> > activity?) and others of his ilk, spend it on buying the recordings.
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Jerry,
> > Norwich,
> > U.K.
>
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