Comments on: Ain’t But a Few of Us: Black jazz writers tell their story pt2 http://www.openskyjazz.com/blog/?p=133 The Independent Ear Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:45:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: The Athenian Arts http://www.openskyjazz.com/blog/?p=133#comment-11457 The Athenian Arts Sun, 20 Dec 2009 11:48:14 +0000 http://www.openskyjazz.com/blog/?p=133#comment-11457 <strong>The Athenian Arts...</strong> ...an interesting post over at . ..... The Athenian Arts…

…an interesting post over at . …..

]]> By: The Son Of Heaven http://www.openskyjazz.com/blog/?p=133#comment-11390 The Son Of Heaven Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:52:24 +0000 http://www.openskyjazz.com/blog/?p=133#comment-11390 <strong>The Son Of Heaven...</strong> ...a good post over at . . .... The Son Of Heaven…

…a good post over at . . ….

]]> By: mike http://www.openskyjazz.com/blog/?p=133#comment-10950 mike Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:20:13 +0000 http://www.openskyjazz.com/blog/?p=133#comment-10950 <strong>mike...</strong> Your topic "Fad" Weight Loss Diet " Fitness Dome was interesting when I found it on Tuesday searching for rotation diet... mike…

Your topic “Fad” Weight Loss Diet ” Fitness Dome was interesting when I found it on Tuesday searching for rotation diet…

]]> By: Lee http://www.openskyjazz.com/blog/?p=133#comment-10783 Lee Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:56:57 +0000 http://www.openskyjazz.com/blog/?p=133#comment-10783 Sorry below is the correct link: http://www.roc4life.com/profiles/blogs/jayz-tweets-a-message-from-hov I understand why people want to make the differentiation but I'm just not sure it helps and brings people together, there are types of music but I just don't think music should be defined by colour, no matter where it originates from. Even the mobo has dropped jazz as a category - it's too confusing and contentious to label music by colour it also creates boundaries. I don't know why there isn't a fair respresentation of black journalists but just as women don't have equality yet I think things can change a positive inclusive attitude and language seems the way to go though. Sorry below is the correct link:
http://www.roc4life.com/profiles/blogs/jayz-tweets-a-message-from-hov

I understand why people want to make the differentiation but I’m just not sure it helps and brings people together, there are types of music but I just don’t think music should be defined by colour, no matter where it originates from. Even the mobo has dropped jazz as a category – it’s too confusing and contentious to label music by colour it also creates boundaries. I don’t know why there isn’t a fair respresentation of black journalists but just as women don’t have equality yet I think things can change a positive inclusive attitude and language seems the way to go though.

]]> By: Lee http://www.openskyjazz.com/blog/?p=133#comment-10782 Lee Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:41:18 +0000 http://www.openskyjazz.com/blog/?p=133#comment-10782 Hi Don't you think the best way of reducing boundaries is not to segregate music by colour at all. As in the wise words words of Jay-thttp://www.roc4life.com/profiles/blogs/jayz-tweets-a-message-from-hov there is no black music and no white music see more at above link. Lee Hi Don’t you think the best way of reducing boundaries is not to segregate music by colour at all. As in the wise words words of Jay-thttp://www.roc4life.com/profiles/blogs/jayz-tweets-a-message-from-hov there is no black music and no white music see more at above link.
Lee

]]> By: felix contreras http://www.openskyjazz.com/blog/?p=133#comment-10723 felix contreras Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:02:42 +0000 http://www.openskyjazz.com/blog/?p=133#comment-10723 Willard, I'm eagerly awaiting the rest of the interviews. AB and Murph's conversations illuminate at the issue much better than the IAJE thing we did a while back. Bravo! -Felix Willard,
I’m eagerly awaiting the rest of the interviews.
AB and Murph’s conversations illuminate at the issue much better than the IAJE thing we did a while back.

Bravo!
-Felix

]]> By: John Murph http://www.openskyjazz.com/blog/?p=133#comment-10719 John Murph Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:34:05 +0000 http://www.openskyjazz.com/blog/?p=133#comment-10719 Hi Craig, Thanks for reading the interview. I'm not sure what publications that you are reading that offer more incisive analysis of the music other than JazzWise, Down Beat, JazzTimes and Down Beat. I'm quite they're out there. But please enlighten us. As for "intellectual rigor," please define what that means to you. As a journalist, my job is to tell a story. In the mainstream please, that task is to write a story, hopefully with a captivating narrative that would enlighten both the jazz expert and novice on any given topic or musician. If you're defining "intellectual rigor" as writing a lot about music theory and throwing around a lot of music terminology then you're correct; I don't do it too often. The reason why is that I often compare jazz to sausage. Many people love eating sausage, but most people aren't interested in the "ins and outs" of how it's actually made. In fact, it might even turn them off. Regarding the dearth of black jazz critics. One can do an entire thesis paper on that subject. And even better, the dearth of black music critics and/or black journalists working in the mainstream media. That's why organizations such as the National Black Journalists Association is so vital. I wasn't asked for solutions. I answered the questions based upon my observation and experiences. But if you indeed have that more analysis and solutions regarding the dearth of black journalists, please share them. We all could use your help. Cheers, j. Hi Craig,

Thanks for reading the interview. I’m not sure what publications that you are reading that offer more incisive analysis of the music other than JazzWise, Down Beat, JazzTimes and Down Beat. I’m quite they’re out there. But please enlighten us.

As for “intellectual rigor,” please define what that means to you. As a journalist, my job is to tell a story. In the mainstream please, that task is to write a story, hopefully with a captivating narrative that would enlighten both the jazz expert and novice on any given topic or musician.

If you’re defining “intellectual rigor” as writing a lot about music theory and throwing around a lot of music terminology then you’re correct; I don’t do it too often. The reason why is that I often compare jazz to sausage. Many people love eating sausage, but most people aren’t interested in the “ins and outs” of how it’s actually made. In fact, it might even turn them off.

Regarding the dearth of black jazz critics. One can do an entire thesis paper on that subject. And even better, the dearth of black music critics and/or black journalists working in the mainstream media. That’s why organizations such as the National Black Journalists Association is so vital.

I wasn’t asked for solutions. I answered the questions based upon my observation and experiences. But if you indeed have that more analysis and solutions regarding the dearth of black journalists, please share them. We all could use your help.

Cheers,
j.

]]> By: Craig Taylor http://www.openskyjazz.com/blog/?p=133#comment-10715 Craig Taylor Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:34:44 +0000 http://www.openskyjazz.com/blog/?p=133#comment-10715 I am reading with interest the ongoing series Ain't But a Few of Us: Black jazz writers tell their story but must confess that after the Spellman and Murph interviews, I do not think you are any closer to answering the question of what accounts for the dearth of black jazz critics. But I would posit an even more fundamental question, especially after reading the Murph interview: Is it really consequential that there are relatively so few blacks in the field, particularly when they offer nothing beyond the amateurism of white jazz enthusiasts that sadly passes for jazz criticism in this country? I submit that the sort of fare about jazz that appears in The Washington Post, DownBeat, JazzTimes, and Jazzwise cannot be mistaken for serious criticism, which is distinguished by its intellectual rigor and incisive analysis. I am reading with interest the ongoing series Ain’t But a Few of Us: Black jazz writers tell their story but must confess that after the Spellman and Murph interviews, I do not think you are any closer to answering the question of what accounts for the dearth of black jazz critics. But I would posit an even more fundamental question, especially after reading the Murph interview: Is it really consequential that there are relatively so few blacks in the field, particularly when they offer nothing beyond the amateurism of white jazz enthusiasts that sadly passes for jazz criticism in this country? I submit that the sort of fare about jazz that appears in The Washington Post, DownBeat, JazzTimes, and Jazzwise cannot be mistaken for serious criticism, which is distinguished by its intellectual rigor and incisive analysis.

]]> By: Kevin Le Gendre http://www.openskyjazz.com/blog/?p=133#comment-10710 Kevin Le Gendre Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:34:26 +0000 http://www.openskyjazz.com/blog/?p=133#comment-10710 I wholly endorse everything John says, especially his point about mainstream black press not giving the space to jazz that it could. The Voice newspaper in the UK - who I freelanced for - took more or less the same standpoint and yes, it is really holding us back when it could be moving us forward. But Murph is an excellent writer with a very insightful view of the music, and most importantly, its history, so if anyone is gonna keep representing right and exact it's him. I wholly endorse everything John says, especially his point about mainstream black press not giving the space to jazz that it could. The Voice newspaper in the UK – who I freelanced for – took more or less the same standpoint and yes, it is really holding us back when it could be moving us forward. But Murph is an excellent writer with a very insightful view of the music, and most importantly, its history, so if anyone is gonna keep representing right and exact it’s him.

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