Results for "Opinion"

News: Opinion

Parker: The High-Tech Hitler?

October 30, 2010

With Limewire Gone is Spotify the New Napster? I Don't Know. Is Sean Parker the New High-Tech Hitler? Is there no limit to this guy's narcissism? The old saying goes, when three people tell you you're drunk, maybe you should sit down. When, the US Supreme court says, you are a thief who stole from millions ...

News: Opinion

Is Music Helping Shred a Senseless Cold War Remnant?

October 27, 2010

After all these years, is there anything more senseless than the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba? I think not, but some are bound to disagree. But the arts are thawing the iceberg a bit—and jazz is at the forefront of that relaxation. Larry Blumenfeld had a riveting two-part coverage in the Wall Street Journal in early ...

News: Opinion

Why the Whole Music World Should Not Go Digital

October 26, 2010

Vinyl records have resurged; it is no secret. The bigger question that looms is why have they? Tye L. at The Music Cycle thinks it is because of two factors. First, records produce a sound that is unique to them. They are richer or more natural sounding than their digital counterparts. In addition, they give fans ...

News: Opinion

Not Making Enough Money on the Road? Try Selling Underwear...

October 25, 2010

(#cmj, #musicindustry, #music) If you wanted lots of direct-to-fan tips, there was no better place to be last week than CMJ. But is any of this really healthy for musicians? Showcases have always been a crapshoot, though the daily panels featured endless amounts of 'expert advice' that steered away from the most serious issues affecting musicians ...

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News: Opinion

Another Robert Johnson Mystery

October 25, 2010

Below see the semi-decipherable conversation between professor Chalfen and myself vis a vis the mystery of whether the recordings of blues giant Robert Johnson were recorded at the wrong speed and hence play back at a faster speed than they should. This is important because, if true, it implies Mephistopheles may have been less involved than ...

News: Opinion

"The Institute's New Jazz Typology"

October 24, 2010

By Steve Provizer ..."why is the Tristano school always shown as a branch of cool jazz? Those guys were hardcore bebop heads. Is it just that they were white and some of them wore glasses so people confuse them with Brubeck?" —Ian Carey Mr. Carey, The Institute is here for you. Our first attempt at typology, ...

News: Opinion

The Real Reason Why Fans File-Share Music

October 23, 2010

I believe that there are many different reasons why fans file-share music. Also, I think that the longer music downloading occurs, the more we're not talking about greedy fans, entitlement, and anti-corporate rebellion anymore. This is a decade in the making. It will go on another one after that. However, if the evolution of the online ...

News: Opinion

Making Music Cheaper Than Coffee Won't Devalue It

October 22, 2010

People say that if music costs less than a cup of coffee or a bottle of water it will devalue the 'art' of music. Ian S. Port, the SF Weekly music editor, doesn't think so. He contends that fans don't judge the artistic value of music by what it costs. If true, they would look down ...

News: Opinion

"Ellington on Art and Craft"

October 21, 2010

By Steve Provizer Duke Ellington said: “The wise players are those that play what they can master." Indeed, a highly controversial thing to say, especially in light of the radical shifts jazz has undergone in the last 60 or so years. Let's say it values the “craft" in jazz more heavily than the “art." Art versus ...

News: Opinion

Correspondence, Illustrated: "Isfahan"

October 20, 2010

Rifftides reader Mike Paulson writes:Looked up this clip on YouTube after watching Scott Robinson play “Isfahan" with Martin Wind at The Seasons the other evening. I am amazed at how timeless this arrangement is. Hard to improve on perfection. Not sure why Duke had to hold the sheet music ...