Excellent comments, both. Last night I began to write a post which I did not finish nor post (for no good reason) which read something like this:
**** I both admire and love your attitude, mahgister.. Conviction and/in evenhandedness.
Stuartk, the idea that Miles was not a particularly accomplished player, technically, is a myth. This notion sadly points to the lack of musical acumen on the part of some so called “critics”. There is a very important difference between a musician such as Miles sometimes sounding technically rough or unpolished because of actual technical limitations as an instrumentalist and playing in a way that could be interpreted as such for emotional effect. This is a deliberate stylistic choice....controlled technical abandon, if you will. The proof of this can be found in the many recorded examples of his beautifully controlled and virtuosic playing. ****
Segueing to more recent comments, I must include Stuartk in my admiration for the attitudes expressed. Attitudes and comments that support something that I have often felt is sorely lacking in discussions about music and musicians.
IMO, in order to make a more complete and honest assessment of the true value of a musician’s musical vision the listener needs to have, at least, a modicum of humility. I think that “humility” encapsulates much of what I think your recent comments express. Before passing ultimate judgment it would be most productive to acknowledge that our feelings and reaction to an artist’s musical vision is inevitably colored by our own individual experiences; not only as as listeners, but life in general. It is well and good, as is often suggested, to “listen to what you like” and leave it at that without any effort whatsoever to get past, or even acknowledge our built-in biases. Obviously, this is a personal call as some feel that art should not require any effort whatsoever on the part of the “consumer” (listener); that there should be immediate gratification. I disagree. This attitude is very limiting and shuts the door to growth as a listener. Not only will this limit the exploration of artists that are not immediately enjoyed, but it limits the depth of appreciation of those that we do enjoy. It also makes it far easier to recognize the imposters.
**** I both admire and love your attitude, mahgister.. Conviction and/in evenhandedness.
Stuartk, the idea that Miles was not a particularly accomplished player, technically, is a myth. This notion sadly points to the lack of musical acumen on the part of some so called “critics”. There is a very important difference between a musician such as Miles sometimes sounding technically rough or unpolished because of actual technical limitations as an instrumentalist and playing in a way that could be interpreted as such for emotional effect. This is a deliberate stylistic choice....controlled technical abandon, if you will. The proof of this can be found in the many recorded examples of his beautifully controlled and virtuosic playing. ****
Segueing to more recent comments, I must include Stuartk in my admiration for the attitudes expressed. Attitudes and comments that support something that I have often felt is sorely lacking in discussions about music and musicians.
IMO, in order to make a more complete and honest assessment of the true value of a musician’s musical vision the listener needs to have, at least, a modicum of humility. I think that “humility” encapsulates much of what I think your recent comments express. Before passing ultimate judgment it would be most productive to acknowledge that our feelings and reaction to an artist’s musical vision is inevitably colored by our own individual experiences; not only as as listeners, but life in general. It is well and good, as is often suggested, to “listen to what you like” and leave it at that without any effort whatsoever to get past, or even acknowledge our built-in biases. Obviously, this is a personal call as some feel that art should not require any effort whatsoever on the part of the “consumer” (listener); that there should be immediate gratification. I disagree. This attitude is very limiting and shuts the door to growth as a listener. Not only will this limit the exploration of artists that are not immediately enjoyed, but it limits the depth of appreciation of those that we do enjoy. It also makes it far easier to recognize the imposters.