I have read a lot about Artie also. He was an absolutely brilliant man in many respects. He was a wonderful musician. He was also uncompromising and many would say, an A-hole.
**** do one needs to be (ab)normal if (s)he aims to do ab(normal) staff? ****
I would make a distinction between “abnormal” and “extraordinary”. I do think one has to be abnormal to do abnormal things. However, I don’t think that it is necessary to be abnormal or “stand out” in one’s personal life in order to do extraordinary things professionally; certainly not in as much as being a weirdo or an A-hole. It is true that many great artists were also dysfunctional and were major weirdos; but some of the best artists are/were modest and gentle.
I suppose that one’s chosen profession dictates how much of ourselves one can afford to reveal in our professional life. In the arts, the key is simply to be yourself, as your inner self will be revealed through your art. I think it is easy to imagine how a dinner date with Bill Evans’ might differ from one with Thelonious Monk. Just listen to their music.
**** do one needs to be (ab)normal if (s)he aims to do ab(normal) staff? ****
I would make a distinction between “abnormal” and “extraordinary”. I do think one has to be abnormal to do abnormal things. However, I don’t think that it is necessary to be abnormal or “stand out” in one’s personal life in order to do extraordinary things professionally; certainly not in as much as being a weirdo or an A-hole. It is true that many great artists were also dysfunctional and were major weirdos; but some of the best artists are/were modest and gentle.
I suppose that one’s chosen profession dictates how much of ourselves one can afford to reveal in our professional life. In the arts, the key is simply to be yourself, as your inner self will be revealed through your art. I think it is easy to imagine how a dinner date with Bill Evans’ might differ from one with Thelonious Monk. Just listen to their music.