Once again, grounded and significant exchange of ideas seems to get foiled by the tendency to want to take sides in a discussion/debate so as to somehow garner supporters. Alex, as usual, makes some very good, reasonable and evenhanded comments; there is nothing that he wrote re Grant Green that I can disagree with. Moreover, as I interpret his comments, I don’t see that he is coming out in anybody’s favor. He can, of course speak for himself on that point; although it’s not really that important. I see nothing in what he wrote that buttresses O-10’s comments about Green that have been the cause of the disagreement. I have repeatedly said that he was a great player, but that his later recordings were not as good as his classics. Rok has said essentially the same thing. Neither of us has said that he wasn’t an important player. I don’t want to speak for him, and only as way of example, but Rok’s comment was simply that he wasn’t THAT important that he was a game changer. I agree, although I believe that he was, in fact, an influential player. Why this opinion about this player should cause such a disturbance is what is, in fact, most ridiculous of all. So, why keep the commentary in a "me against them" kind of realm? I have said this countless times: there can be disagreement without disrespect if everyone is comfortable and confident in their opinions. Just don’t expect silence when disrespect is directed towards a dissenting opinion. What is this "true aficionado" (or not) branding bullshit? It will lead to nothing positive and is precisely the kind of thing that keeps things mired in negativity.
I find it ironic that a music that is so replete with subtlety and nuance should receive so little of the same by some of the commentary here. Why does it have to mean when someone says "I don’t like recording x by artist z" that everything else by the artist is thought to be no good? A ridiculous and very sophomoric notion. The post before this one says it all in my opinion; how pathetic. As always, I hope we can do better.
I find it ironic that a music that is so replete with subtlety and nuance should receive so little of the same by some of the commentary here. Why does it have to mean when someone says "I don’t like recording x by artist z" that everything else by the artist is thought to be no good? A ridiculous and very sophomoric notion. The post before this one says it all in my opinion; how pathetic. As always, I hope we can do better.