Separating the person from the recordings

Posted by andy evans (A) on January 20, 2022 at 03:16:08

In Reply to: RE: Albert Ayler instead of Mike Brecker? posted by belyin on January 19, 2022 at 22:27:29:

"My point is none of my favorite sax players were ever session players and almost never sidemen in their mature periods because I find iconoclasts and sui generis musicians much more interesting than just great players."

I agree completely with the above.

But there'a another point here. Rick knows a lot of sax players as people which is a whole other situation and one which sets him apart from those who only know the recordings themselves and have no personal connection. I know this myself because my job for over 30 years has been as a psychologist specialising in musicians. In my job I was completely uncritical of the 2,500 or so musicians I worked with - this is what's known as "unconditional positive regard" in coaching. So I really don't need to take any lessons in supporting my fellow musicians - I built my whole life around it.

But now I'm pretty much retired it's liberating to be able to speak freely. I have opinions just like anyone else does and I'm simply being honest about what I do and don't like. Some players I'm pretty passionate about and I've frequently posted tracks I love on the forum. If I didn't love music, why the hell would I have been a musician all my life? And of course other players leave me cold.

If we are not free to say what moves us and what leaves us cold without being criticised for "negative shit", what is the point in having this forum at all? So some of us are not fans of Michael Brecker and some of us find Miles' actual trumpet playing uninteresting, whatever great things he did in the wider context of his career. Deal with it.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Holy guitar strings, batman! - Mike K 21:32:34 01/15/22 (20)

Entertaining to hear once! - andy evans 01:19:23 01/16/22 (19)

Speed is your criteria? - Rick W 10:48:34 01/17/22 (17)

Partly but not always - andy evans 02:47:59 01/18/22 (16)

Dunno what to say if you can't relate to the Emmanuel ballad I linked. - Rick W 09:55:48 01/18/22 (15)

Saxes and fast licks..... - andy evans 11:23:28 01/18/22 (14)

Michael Brecker et. al - belyin 20:52:09 01/18/22 (13)

To put it mildly, I disagree (long). - Rick W 09:39:46 01/19/22 (0)

RE: Michael Brecker et. al - GEO 07:02:08 01/19/22 (0)

Albert Ayler instead of Mike Brecker? - oldmkvi 06:50:26 01/19/22 (9)

RE: Albert Ayler instead of Mike Brecker? - belyin 22:27:29 01/19/22 (8)

Separating the person from the recordings - andy evans 03:16:08 01/20/22 (2)

"Deal with it". LOL. Not much of a problem. nt - Rick W 13:33:05 01/20/22 (0)

RE: Separating the person from the recordings - belyin 10:31:51 01/20/22 (0)

LOL. Amusing put down of Mike. So how about a few names of the iconoclast musicians you like - for context. - Rick W 23:06:48 01/19/22 (4)

RE: Fair Enough - belyin 10:10:07 01/20/22 (3)

You're wrong. Our perspectives are very similar. - Rick W 10:27:09 01/20/22 (2)

RE: You're wrong. Our perspectives are very similar. - belyin 11:15:45 01/20/22 (1)

Our views re: Brecker are different but I think we're basically on the same page. nt - Rick W 13:54:23 01/20/22 (0)

Really interesting assessment - thanks! - andy evans 23:53:42 01/18/22 (0)

Here's the thing - Mike K 08:19:50 01/16/22 (0)

Follow Ups

Separating the person from the recordings - andy evans 03:16:08 01/20/22 (2)

"Deal with it". LOL. Not much of a problem. nt - Rick W 13:33:05 01/20/22 (0)

RE: Separating the person from the recordings - belyin 10:31:51 01/20/22 (0)

Separating the person from the recordings

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