[Dixielandjazz] Why We Play Jazz Music

[LARRY'S Signs and Large Format Printing]

snip:> people telling you how and what to play to make more money, then the
art
> suffers.
>
> My other point was not so much that selling one's art is a crime against
the
> arts, but merely that people don't usually become artists or musicians for
the
> money as their primary objective. There are so many easier ways to make
money,


I would agree with you that there are easier ways to make a living.  I
personally don't like the bean counters getting in my way either but if you
need them then you need them.

There is always the difference between pure and commercial art.  In some
ways it's like the difference between a pet owner and a dog breeder.  I know
some guys that are pure artists and honestly they have a real hard time of
it.  I have seen them "tell off" people and shun some venues and stuff like
that.  I find a much closer link with my music and my audience and that I am
not "above" them but with them.  I actually want to play things that my
audience wants to hear.  I have seen so many of these guys come and go over
the years it's almost funny.  It's simple... they can't make money at it so
they quit.  There is a band leader in town that believes that there has
always been a conspiracy by the other band leaders to keep him down but I
have seen him tell off patrons.  He has his own tastes in music and he is
often crude with requests and definitely does not play to the crowd.  Is he
an artist or a jerk?  Actually he blows hot and cold but the one thing is
that he practically gives away his band and pays very poorly.  I haven't
played for the guy in years so I guess I'm part of the conspiracy too.

I don't think it's a case of financial considerations overriding artistic
values.  They can and do go hand in hand to produce success.  If Louis
Armstrong had said no to recording contracts we would have never heard of
him and his innovations would have never taken hold  He was able for the
most part to be innovative, original and have a good time while making a lot
of money.  Very few of us are in that category but I see no difference
between making money and artistic performance.  Having said that I have seen
attitude problems with artists and some audiences regarding the snob appeal
of some things.  It runs thick in symphony orchestras and members of their
audiences as well as in local OKOM and trad jazz societies.

You are right about the urge to create is very strong and overrides money in
many cases but money is the way our capitalistic society chooses to tell
some people that what they are doing is good and telling others that they
aught to stay in their garage for awhile longer.  The guy next door to me
thinks he is a drummer and he turns the sounds up so loud that eventually
someone calls the police.  I think that I'm in musician hell when he cranks
up.  He is creating but what he is creating?  I want no part of but he's
having a good time.  The difference is they pay me and they call the cops on
him.

One man's art is another man's crime.
I guess my point is that making money is society's way of telling us that
they like what we do and compliments us.  I personally would still play for
charity if there were no paying audience but I get paid for it and I like
the arrangement.

Larry Walton
St. Louis
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Elazar Brandt" <jazzmin at actcom.net.il>
To: <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 2:06 AM
Subject: RE: [Dixielandjazz] Why We Play Jazz Music


> Shalom Larry,
>
> No argument with you on these points. As I tried to clarify in my reply to
> Steve, I meant when you have financial considerations overriding the
artistic
> ones, as in when you have non-musician accountants, lawyers and management
> people telling you how and what to play to make more money, then the art
> suffers.
>
> My other point was not so much that selling one's art is a crime against
the
> arts, but merely that people don't usually become artists or musicians for
the
> money as their primary objective. There are so many easier ways to make
money,
> and so few musos who ever reach the point of being able to quit the day
job.
> Usually the urge to create/play is the driving force, and not the desire
for
> money. If one achieves both, G-d bless him!
>
> Elazar
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: LARRY'S Signs and Large Format Printing
[mailto:sign.guy at charter.net]
> >
> > Tell that to Leonardo Da Vinci.  I think he sold his art.  Duh! people
pay
> > for art.  No one compromises anything by selling their art.  Zillions
are
> > made every day by the record companies and the artists who make them.
> >
> > You have to make choices.
>
>
>
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