Results for "Opinion"

192

Article: Opinion

Is There A New Mainstream?

by AAJ Staff
August 5, 2005

Back in the day, the term “mainstream" was intended to apply to jazz that fell between the radicalism of bebop and the galumphing stodginess of “moldy fig" music. In other words, the mainstream was the swinging sound of the majority of musicians circa 1950, the swing music played by the likes of Ben Webster or Roy ...

152

News: Opinion

JJA Panels at Major U.S. Jazz Festivals

August 5, 2005

Jazz Journalists Stage Public Panels at Major U.S. Festivals After 9th Annual Jazz Awards, “Jazz Matters" in Newport, Tanglewood, Chicago New York -- The Jazz Journalists Association, the 450-plus member international not-for-profit promoting the documentation and dissemination of news on jazz, follows up its ninth annual Jazz Awards gala held in June with public panel discussions ...

895

Article: Highly Opinionated

The Trouble With Gary: An Open Letter to the Jazz Community

by John Dworkin
June 29, 2005

This article was written to be distributed at last night's Keith Jarrett Trio concert at Carnegie Hall. This explains a few of the initial references. Knowing ahead of time that the writing and distribution of this small missive may upset some gives me pause. To some this will seem an immature prank. Still others ...

867

Article: Opinion

Prelude to a Kiss-Off

by AAJ Staff
June 16, 2005

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 If you tell a big lie often enough, it will become the truth. ~Joseph GoebbelsIt is not only a matter of not caring who knows - it is also a matter of knowing who cares. ~Sufi sayingIn Part 1 of ...

271

Article: Opinion

Fine Wine and the Future of Jazz

by AAJ Staff
June 12, 2005

Jazz fans are different from mainstream music fans. We all know this. But while watching the movie Sideways, it struck me that jazz fans and wine lovers have something in common: they're both connoisseurs. Many wine lovers don't care for Merlot because it has no terribly distinct or exciting flavors--the same way that many jazz fans ...

448

Article: Opinion

Interpreters & Music Makers

by Luis T. Martinez
June 12, 2005

In jazz some are interpreters, others makers of music. Art Tatum and Ahmad Jamal are prime examples of the former. Either can take a standard and remake it, make it sound as if new, giving that old song a facelift - a sort of keeping the old new and up-to-date. In this, they are ...

528

Article: Opinion

Repertoire Rebellion: What

by Vincent Stephens
May 27, 2005

Even when pop/rock would-be torch singers, like Carly Simon, Linda Ronstadt, Barry Manilow, Rod Stewart etc. fail to illuminate the musical and lyrical nuances of the Great American Songbook their often inadequate approaches do not distort the fundamental excellence of the material they're singing. If such attempts will never erase anyone's memories of benchmark performers like ...

155

News: Opinion

Jazz Journalists Association’s Ninth Annual Jazz Awards Celebrating Excellence in Musicianship and Journalism

May 19, 2005

Honorees Set to Receive the 2005 “A Team” Award for Jazz Altruists, Advocates, Activists, Aiders and Abbetors Include Kenny Burrell, Charlie Haden, The Heath Brothers, Wadada Leo Smith and Gerald Wilson New York --The Jazz Journalists Association (JJA) Jazz Awards 2005, the ninth annual presentation of honors to jazz musicians and their supporters by the organization ...

667

Article: Opinion

Hello... I Must Be Going

by AAJ Staff
May 9, 2005

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 “Only a man of undaunted optimism would embark on such a venture." ~Charles Chaplin as Monsieur Verdoux“A pessimist is sometimes just an optimist with more information." ~Sufi ProverbThis article was supposed to be the first in an ongoing column, but ...

680

Article: Opinion

How Far Is Too Far Out?

by Dick Mace
April 8, 2005

The year was 1948. It was a few years after the end of World War II. The world was climbing out of the residue left by a horrible war. Big bands, dance bands and small groups played the music of the day. All over America and around the world people turned on their radios and listened ...