[Dixielandjazz] Re: Critics

[LeslieMRag at aol.com]

Steve:
 
The review you refer to must not have been in The Mississippi Rag but  rather 
in another publication. We don't use the star system you refer to --  never 
have. I assign CDs to reviewers who already like the particular style  
represented. For example, I wouldn't send a ragtime CD to a big band aficionado,  and 
I specifically ask musicians if they like or dislike a musician before  
sending out a CD. They don't want to write negative reviews and it's not unusual  
for me to get a recording back because a reviewer will say he just can't  find 
anything good to say about it and would prefer to have it assigned to  someone 
else. So, if a reviewer who is already predisposed to like a CD (and/or  
musician) and is knowledgeable about a style and still gives the CD a negative  
review, that tells me that there are problems with the recording.
 
Leslie
 
 
In a message dated 7/21/2006 2:01:32 PM Central Standard Time,  
dixielandjazz-request at ml.islandnet.com writes:

Mississippi Rag CD reviewers are generally very good. Some others are  not.
I remember a Band about 7 years ago getting a one star review (out of  5) by
a famous reviewer who did not like the style. (Uptown New Orleans  like
George Lewis) Panned the band like "why should a band play in the  style of
George Lewis" etc., etc., etc. The musicianship in that band was  and still
is superb, at least in my jazz musician ears.

Today, that  same band is goes all over the USA playing Swing Dances, club
dates,  weddings, and more for young people who absolutely adore their  music.
Playing in George Lewis style. But, they play precious few Festivals  since
that nasty review went a long way towards killing that market for  them.
Being smart businessmen who work Dixieland for a living, they figured  out
how to get an audience. And they don't send their CDs out for review  anymore
either. :-) VBG.