From: bbbe~ris.com (Barry B. Bean) Date: Fri, 15 Mar 96 16:41:03 EST Subject: Re: [Fwd: Re: New CD from Trio Globo/Howard Levy?]
On Fri, 15 Mar 1996 17:10:26 -0500 you wrote:
>Barry--you make some good points, but I don't think the critic has anything >to teach the artist. Rather, artists should never listen to critics. Ideally, >the critic is a bridge between the art and the public, and he helps put >things in perspective to make art more meaningful. Ideally, he does not pass >judgement.
1) I would never argue that the point of criticism is to educate the artist.
2) But artists can learn a lot from the critics - assuming they want to get good reviews and sell CDs. I've certainly gotten feedback from artists who said that the appreciated the perspective they gor from my reviews.
3) Pass judgement/put in perspective - we're getting into semantics here.
4) Reviews are simply public discourse. Just as the critic is free to accept or reject the artist's work, the public is free to accept or reject the critic's opinion. Apparently it will come as a shock to many of those involved in this discussion, but music writers consider their craft to be an art, and their opinions a personal expression. I put as much effort into my writing as I do into my playing, and both reflect my own unique collection of experiences and perspectives.
> Let me ask you the same question I asked Crispin. Have you been >reviewed for some of your work? Tell, tell... Jon
I assume you mean in print or on air. Obviously everyone that has ever played publically has been "reviewed" in some context. Yes, I have been reviewed in print and on air. Fortunately, most of it has been favorable, but I have not escaped unscathed. The worst review I ever received was the comments Bruce Iglaur (el jefe of Alligator Records) sent to my trio regarding our demo tape. He was less than receptive to our brand of neo-traditional blues/jazz and didn't think much of my harp playing. I took his comments seriously, thought about them, decided I disagreed, and kept on playing. No big deal.
BBB - - B.B. Bean - Have horn. Will travel. http://www.cris.com/~Bbbean
