Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Lennie Tristano and White Jazz vs. Black Jazz

Some interesting analysis from pianist Ethan Iverson with a cameo by mega-critic Stanley Crouch on the Tristano school, racism and white jazz vs. black jazz:

http://thebadplus.typepad.com/dothemath
/2008/05/lennie-tristano.html

http://thebadplus.typepad.com/dothemath
/2008/05/a-note-on-trist.html

http://thebadplus.typepad.com/dothemath
/2008/05/warne-marsh-lee.html

How would the Wynton Marsalis school (to pick a lighting rod example!) fit in with a simliar analysis? Iverson's comment about jazz and American slavery being related is powerful as well as disturbing - associating such a beautiful American art form with something so repulsive - and deserves an article of its own. I'd agree that slavery brought the African influence that is a fundamental part of jazz but I wouldn't say that black jazz musicians are only creative because of this and this seems to be implied by these kind of statements. With there being more white jazz musicians than black jazz musicians today (I'd say very unscientifically from observing musicians on gigs and at other concerts a 70/30 split) I'd like to see Iverson and Crouch give their take on racial issues in jazz today.

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