Mark Isaac: “Vision’s” receives rave reviews in th

[alimcg]

I look forward to Frank's tell-all book. Will it be like the Latham Diaries, or more like the Sylvania Waters Diaries from Noelene Donahue?

[maurice]

Not sure. Either way, I do hope he'll include a pizza recipe.

[pettman]

Wow, now that was a fun read! What a shame I missed Franks remarks in order to understand the thread fully.
It is strange to me that you musicians are so quick to let everyone know about a good review but if you get a bad one assume that the critic is wrong and doesn't know what they are on about.
If you don't believe the bad ones, don't believe the good ones either. Or better still, don't read any of them, they are for us punters anyway.

[marksiks]

pettman said:

Wow, now that was a fun read! What a shame I missed Franks remarks in order to understand the thread fully.
It is strange to me that you musicians are so quick to let everyone know about a good review but if you get a bad one assume that the critic is wrong and doesn't know what they are on about.
If you don't believe the bad ones, don't believe the good ones either. Or better still, don't read any of them, they are for us punters anyway.

v
pettman sometimes your posts read as judgemental, autocratic and whiney and that may not be your intention at all but I am a Forum post critic, so therefore I know what I am talking about. Then again………

There are few people who write about jazz in Australia who really know enough about the technical aspects of playing music to warrant their bylines. Some of them have far too much power and worse... some of their writing is ghastly, like bad high school 'poetry'. Most of these critics love jazz and that's a great thing but few of them have a full understanding of the art form. For example they might mention reharmonisation in a review but have no idea what the term means. I have seen the term used in a national newspaper to describe a change in tempo and feel on a standard! This kind of thing is far too common in reviews and grates when the reviewer is allocating stars to your cd , which of course may determine sales and therefore what your kids are going to eat a month from today.

AJ (on this forum) is one the best jazz critics in Australia and also one of the best festival directors. If you want to learn about Australian jazz read his work.

Our criticism of jazz critics here is critical to our mental health and thoroughly justifiable.
Many of these jazz writers let politics, prejudice and sometimes their own insecurities get in the way of their listening. Finally please note that jazz musicians are 'punters' too.

[pettman]

Marksiks, I am judgemental, autocratic and whiney. I may not be so versed in posting on this forum as someone so articulate as you, but your post is only an example for what I'm saying. You're willing to uphold Mr Jackson as your hero, but your specifics in retaliation of other reviewers lack any focus as much as the reviewer you can.
Ok, so you are punters too, but punters that usually don't actually pay.
BTW, I doubt any jazz musician in the country is adversely affected by a negative review, no one in this country would sell enough of any jazz album to cover production let alone feed their children.
I think to learn about Australian jazz you should listen to it.

[pettman]

Oh, btw, I love your use of the term 'mental health' in relation to 'here', very nice.

[mim]

I'm struggling to understand your point, Joan, and I don't think it's my comprehension skills that are the problem. I thought marksiks gave good general and specific examples of the problems with many people who write about jazz in this country.

And there are plenty of musicians who come to this forum who also pay for gigs and cds, by the way.

[glean]

most musicians pay for the cds they want and gigs. in our house we NEVER burn cds unless the artist is dead and even then we dont do that very often. higher profile musicians get cds given to them a lot by other musicians who want them to know about their music in the hope that they may get a gig or a recommendation for funding maybe. ironically critics are least likely to pay for CDs or tickets and they usually get very good seats too

[pettman]

Marksiks, I liked this sentence so much I reharmonised it.


"There are few people who play jazz in Australia who really know enough about the technical aspects of playing music to warrant their performances. Some of them have far too much power and worse... some of their writing is ghastly, like bad high school 'jazz'. Most of these players love jazz and that's a great thing but few of them have a full understanding of the art form. For example they might use reharmonisation in a standard but have no idea what the term means. I have seen the skill used in a national performance to highlight a change in tempo and feel on a standard! This kind of thing is far too common in jazz and grates when the player is performing standards on a cd , which of course may determine sales and therefore what your kids are going to eat a month from today."

[alimcg]

My kids will eat cake.

[pettman]

Then they will be very healthy little tackers wont they love? You must be a fine player to have such confidence in the wonderful offerings you can make to your children's health.
I must admit, had I chosen a professional musical path, my kids would have been very malnourished too.

[alimcg]

I was thinking more of the Marie Antoinette type of cake.

[alimcg]

And anyway, I make a range of very fine cakes and slices, and other nanna-like offerings.

[glean]

crab cakes corn cakes potato cakes zucchini cakes or icecram cake or chocolate?

i'll have all the above -

i said pet, I said darl, I said babe, i said love pettperson.. joan ......lex (tho i reckon u r a bloke who plays) i don't get what you are on about ....marksiks point & ur rehamronistaion can you please explain it in a more simplistic style for my thick brain love, pet, darl, dear

[alimcg]

A friend of mine had a birthday cake made for him by his nan when he was 8 or 9 and we all bit in to discover she'd mistaken gravox for cocoa. The dreaded and now fabled Gravox Cake.