Regarding Terry Teachout's “Can Jazz Be Saved?The audience for America's great art form is withering away" (Leisure & Arts, Aug. 8): Miles Davis once said that “jazz is folk music"a music enjoyed by folks for entertainment, inspiration and even sometimes to provoke thought. It was Miles's music and overall persona that people found entertaining. Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker were once performing together in a ballroom in Harlem and Diz was overheard telling Bird that “We better be careful 'cause it seems like less people are dancing than before."
Even then, some jazz musicians desired to become artists and forsake entertainment. Some, however, found a way to do both without sacrificing their integrity, but alas, not enough of us.
The art of talking to and interacting with one's audience does not cost an artist any loss of respect. On the contrary, it adds to the audience's overall experience of the music.
Even then, some jazz musicians desired to become artists and forsake entertainment. Some, however, found a way to do both without sacrificing their integrity, but alas, not enough of us.
The art of talking to and interacting with one's audience does not cost an artist any loss of respect. On the contrary, it adds to the audience's overall experience of the music.
