Professor Tony Whyton has published a book titled “Jazz Icons” that was reviewed by John Robert Brown in the May 2013 edition of Jazz Journal. The review caused a flurry of feathers in the dovecot and I met with John in Leeds when I was there recently and had a pint and a good chat. Subsequently I wrote to Jazz Journal and the letter was published in the June edition. One of the great things about jazz is the fact that people can have a reasonable debate with out falling out.
“This is all rip roaring stuff, but as I try and drag this tired old nation of ours up by its bootstraps, I wonder how will this get musicians gigs, build audiences – especially in the younger demographic – help promoters in straitened times and attract investment? However I also recognise the business of putting on gigs must go hand in hand with strides to build a deep and profound hinterland of knowledge for jazz – a hinterland that provides ballast for funding and investment applications……………….”
Please click on “Jazz Icons” by Professor Tony Whyton and flutterings in the dovecot
My gratefull thankds to Jazz Journal for permission to reproduce the letter from the June 2013 edition www.jazzjournal.co.uk