[Dixielandjazz] The Individual Voice in Music

[Stan Brager]

Tom;

As a long-time jazz and classical (what a terrible name) music fan, I
disagree with your contention that we should "throw the symphonies out." I
found as I grow older that many symphonies and other classical compositions
offer a world of improvisation which many jazz players have studied to
improve their own playing as well as the pure enjoyment of the music.

When I compare the personal longevity of jazz recordings in my collection
and the symphonies, I find that I enjoy symphonies for longer period of
time. Of course, I realize the essential differences between the two - a
symphonic composer has the time to invest in perfecting his/her compositions
while the jazz performer is composing in an instant of time.

For instance, when we compare recordings of the same tune by the same artist
such as the many versions of "Liza" by Teddy Wilson, we can hear how he's
constantly improving on the quality of his improvisation - essentially the
same process as used by the classical composers except that much of Wilson's
improvisation is done at the spur of the moment. Yet, there is an distinct
improvement.

Listen also to the progression of "Sing, Sing, Sing" recordings with Benny
Goodman from the first air checks with Helen Ward's vocal to the July 6,
1937 studio recordings (all 3 takes) to the Carnegie Hall recording on
January 16, 1938 and you'll hear what I'm talking about.

But to throw out the symphony - NO!! What has to be done is to provide good
education of young people so that they grow to appreciate the joys of
quality music regardless of form. This is a difficult task but if we want to
keep music as a viable art form (meaning able to support itself), we must
accomplish this task.

Excuse the rant;

Stan
Stan Brager
Trombonist-in-Training
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <TCASHWIGG at aol.com>
To: <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 08, 2003 10:07 AM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] The Individual Voice in Music


> In a message dated 11/8/03 6:46:01 AM Pacific Standard Time,
> barbonestreet at earthlink.net writes:
>
> Polite snip from:November 7, 2003 - New York Times
>
> REVERBERATIONS
> Thumbs Down, Thumbs Up: Prizing a Personal Voice Even if It Hurts
>
> By JOHN ROCKWELL
>
> "The Individual Voice in Music"
> > Maybe that's what a social scientist must do, but not critics. I trust
> > my own subjective taste. Probably neither Ms. Grimaud nor Mr. Cascioli
> > would rank in the Top 10 consensus of the great pianists of today. But a
> > consensus is like a prize awarded by an uneasy consortium of critics:
> > quirky brilliance, in Mr. Dyer's terms, is weeded out in favor of a film
> > or a recording that everyone can feel comfortable with.
>
> Oh but "What a Wonderful World" it would be if all music sounded and was
> performed exactly the same every time, to please mostly anal retentive
self
> appointed critics, and those who like to go to the symphony halls to
sleep.
>
> I say throw the symphonies out and bring in some Jazz or at least have the
> symphony play some Jazz, then perhaps both genres would sell more seats
and we
> could put the halls on a self supporting system.  Seems to me that it has
> worked when major Jazz Singers have appeared with symphonies in the past,
seems
> like someone would have been paying attention to the biggest sellouts of
their
> venues.
>
> >
> > So more power to Ms. Grimaud and Mr. Cascioli, even if he isn't my
> > pianistic cup of tea. Better a personal voice than an earnest student of
> > convention. And if you make some people mad, and you will, all the
> > better
>
> Everything written prior to this statement in the critique could have
simply
> been omitted, albeit this is more than likely the nicest thing this guy
has
> ever said about any performer that he did not like.  If you can't say
anything
> good about someone, Shut the Hell up and just don't say anything at all.
Who
> the Hell asked YOU anyway.
>
>  Somebody else just might like them, and the artist has no doubt worked
hard
> to attract an audience, it is certainly not the critics job to drive them
away
> or worse yet write his personal tripe in the newspaper to dissuade others
> from ever coming to see a live performer.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Venting my undying love for Critics, again.   But then again who asked for
my
> opinion?  :)
>
> Tom Wiggins
>