be.jazz comments
I'm more curious to hear a review of Nicole Mitchell and the Thursday night of Vision Fest which as far as I can tell hasn't been reviewed by anyone, blog or mainstream press....
Bill Dixon Chamber Orchestra
Vision Festival 2007
Great to see your response, and your commentary is a point well taken.
Realize that the response one expects in relation to any given event is relative, like anything else in life. Factor in age (my age, Bill's age, the average age of the participating musicians) when considering what media we may expect coverage from, and what depth of commentary (and from whom) we may look for.
Not for nothing, none of us expect loyalty from the mainstream press. However, as the majority of publishing critics in the aforementioned realm base/establish their reputations/credentials/legitimacy upon commentary of the work of historically significant artists (frequently dead and unable to speak, often at a particular point in the writer's evolution/the scholarly tip)one would expect journals/magazines/newspapers of note, both domestically and internationally (I realize this is essentially outmoded)to respond to work of primary significance.
While I agree with one respondent, that it would be wonderful to hear more about Ms. Mitchell's wonderful work/voice, and that many stories are left un(and/or improperly)covered, it is safe to say that within a given range of work presented, some of it may accurately be categorized as historically important and, therefore, due a certain level/depth of response.
In any case, finding your response to my commentary was/is a treat, and I will certainly revisit your site. Perhaps you'll leave a comment on my site.
Here, in Argentina, and it's happening everywhere, I'm all the time trying to make the musicians understand that they must help to open a hole in the media, a space for the real art, mass media, well, we know where they are. And not only musicians, club owners, independent record labels. There's enough people in the world interested to make "another kind of art industry". Internet it's a tool, and also a heavy weapon, but you must know the place to put the bullet, you know, we don't have many, bullets...
Now Mwanji
I know "time has told you not to ask for more," but by now you have read and have written a tremendous amount of 'music journalism.'
Are you really *really* "feeling rather inundated" by the press devoted to Bill Dixon?
Pray tell my good man, who do you think has more column inches to their credit, the very much dead Nick Drake or the still very much alive Bill Dixon?
Which is the more extraordinary--"River Man" by Nick Drake or 17 musicians "in search of an instrument" performing an original work by Bill Dixon?
Yes yes, G-d bless Nate Chinen's "thoughtful appreciation", Larry Blumenfeld's well turned *paragraph* in the Voice, David Adlers comparison to Strauss and the all the bloggers under heaven. All very good things. How the internet saved civilization indeed.
But really now: when you say "who apart from (blah blah and blah) are supposed to cover such an event?" are you really suggesting that the afore mentioned constitute 'enough' coverage? Has all that need be said about that piece of music has been said by blah blah and blah?
(Has the world of musical thought really become so small and the demographic thinking about it so unanimous?)
*OR*
Are you suggesting that no one else has anything intelligent (or novel anyway) to say about Dixon's music at that festival--that this thread is closed and it's time to talk about Jimmy Carter?
Mwanji, were you there at Dixon's Vision festival performance? Did you get to hear a recording of it?
Mind you, these are just "troubled cures for a troubled mind" and so without further ado, back to our regularly scheduled programming...
Yes, Bill Dixon doesn't get the love he deserves and its a shame. One reason is that his recordings are very difficult to obtain in the usa.
Plus, there is very little written about him. On the internet, other than this site the only mentions of Dixon are on Taylor Ho Bynum's excellent blog and the blog by Armen Nalbandian. Should it come to any surprise that they are both musicians.
Also, the "If its Not Mean" blog (sorry not sure if you are a musician, chap) mentions Dixon often.
I think the reason for the lack of Dixon press is that unfortunately very few listeners (in the us, not sure about overseas) know who this genius is.
TTG
Thanks to all for the thoughtful comments.
Stanley,
I'd written a much longer response that I unfortunately lost with an accidental click. Anyway, the question it boils down to is: "How much Bill Dixon press is enough?"
http://www.google.com/search?hl=...%22&
btnG=Search
When asking "how much Bill Dixon press is enough" can we answer with the question "how much John Zorn press is enough?"
Another question: What would "too much" Bill Dixon press look like--and what problems would it cause?
What is the central fear? Not enough virtual ink and paper left for the Nick Drake dialectics?
p.s. the "If its not mean" is clearly written not by a musician (oh no no no), but by "a man lived in a shed who spends most of his days out of his head"
No press can be good press too in some ways. A recent evening of improvised duets with 6 heavy hitters in the local scene here that I produced was called "free form jazz exploration" in the *alt weekly* newspaper's calendar (despite my previous insistence to said calendar writer that the music is not jazz), and (despite the absolute clarity of the press release I wrote) called "the experimental duo" in the daily paper. (how it is that a list of 7 musicians can be an "experimental duo" is anyone's guess....)
On the other hand, it is way past time for Dixon to get more of the exposure and attention he has long deserved. But I do shudder to think about how his music might be "encapsulated" in words....
PB
sjz,
Perhaps you feel that my feeling of innundation with Bill Dixon "press" was a negative statement. Not to worry: I know how to swim.
When asking "how much Bill Dixon press is enough" can we answer with the question "how much John Zorn press is enough?"
No. If we can say that something is not enough, we can at least give an idea of what enough might look like. Front page of the Arts sections from coast to coast?
What is the central fear? Not enough virtual ink and paper left for the Nick Drake dialectics?
In the initial, longer response that I lost, I explained that I don't consider this blog to be music journalism - if it were, its content would be very different. And if I get to see a Bill Dixon performance some time, it will be reported here just like (almost) every other concert I see. What I definitely don't talk about enough is the recorded music I listen to. Hopefully I can change that trend soon.
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