Let’s Call This

Smack in the middle of his recap of the Thelonious Monk Jazz Piano Competition (while I remain skeptical of the premise behind what is basically "Jazz Idol," sincere congrats to winner Tigran Hamasyan and runners-up Gerald Clayton and my friend Aaron Parks), Ben Ratliff drops this bomb:

At what point will jazz just crumble under the weight of the glib encomiums paid to it?

This is a very good question, and something I've wondered about myself, especially during Important Jazz Events. Read the rest and jump in in comments. I may have more to say about this in a few days.

Comments

[mwanji]

1.

I noted the same thing, as well as the following line, (roughly) "no art form should have to live up to this." I think jazz has already crumbled under their weight, which is why anti-jazz jokes are funnier than anything pro-jazz could be.

As for "Jazz Idol," I think it's the other way around: Idol is just the Chopin Piano competition (or whatever), adapted to modern technology and a mass audience.

[godoggo]

2.

The thing is that, whereas you might say that some artists are over-praised compared to other ones, there are very very few who are not overrated compared to the rest of the music world. I don't think that the Marsalises, say, are overrated in the scheme of things. I don't even think Zorn, whose music I happen to dislike generally, is overrated in the scheme of things. That's why I tend to be more interested in giving a thumbs up to what I like, and hope that people who share my taste will take note.

[godoggo]

3.

Sorry, must preview henceforth. "some jazz artists."

[godoggo]

4.

...and, more to the point, when I read reviews, what I value most is a pattern of what I consider to be good taste, as opposed to good prose.

[DJA]

5.

G.,

Ratliff wasn't talking about positive reviews of specific performers or performances, he was talking about overwrought, insincere praise for jazz writ large -- you know the "American cultural treasure, metaphor for democracy" stuff.

[mwanji]

6.

"there are very very few who are not overrated compared to the rest of the music world"

Do you really mean that, or the opposite (as the next sentence suggests)?