George Benson teacher attacking other teacher calling him idiot, a-hole and loser

[sully75]

I don’t think people realise how universal the jobbing musician experience is. The Coltrane quartet played functions.


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If you don't know it, the Pablo Held podcast is a treasure. The last one with Larry Grenadier he was telling some story about how someone was on a Bar Mitzvah gig with Ornette, Scott Lafaro, maybe Billy Higgins in California and the dad was like "stop, I'll pay you not to play!"

I thought that was a pretty funny image.

[Christian Miller]

If you don't know it, the Pablo Held podcast is a treasure. The last one with Larry Grenadier he was telling some story about how someone was on a Bar Mitzvah gig with Ornette, Scott Lafaro, maybe Billy Higgins in California and the dad was like "stop, I'll pay you not to play!"

I thought that was a pretty funny image.

I should get into that. Just show up and start playing until they pay me to go away.


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[Christian Miller]

A professional earns most of his or her income from a particular activity. Those who earn some income are semi-professionals, like Jim Thackeray: 'In Memoirs of a semi-pro musician Jim Thackeray recounts tales from over forty years of playing and enjoying his guitar'.

I doubt many musicians could make a living from playing jazz these days.

It’s possible, but it’s not a sustainable lifestyle for most. Even top pros seek a teaching position as they grow a little older.


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[lawson-stone]

Some amateurs play at advanced / pro level with polish and consistency, they're just not pro.

I think we're working with two different ideas of "pro" and "pro-level."

[lawson-stone]

I wish a LOT more people WOULD hold themselves back.
The number of absolute shit musicians out there is astonishing.
It's so awful, and the worst are the clueless morons enabling and praising them to the skies.
It's always been like this and it always will be, and even though there is little to be done about it, it doesn't lessen my hatred for these charlatans and their "fans".

Reminds me of the statement by the writer Flannery O'Connor.
“Everywhere I go I’m asked if I think universities stifle writers,” she said. “I think they don’t stifle enough of them. The kind of writing that can be taught is the kind you then have to teach people not to read. . . .”

[CliffR]

Reminds me of the statement by the writer Flannery O'Connor.
“Everywhere I go I’m asked if I think universities stifle writers,” she said. “I think they don’t stifle enough of them. The kind of writing that can be taught is the kind you then have to teach people not to read. . . .”

Not sure where I heard this: "They say there's a novel inside of everyone. And in most cases, that's where it should stay."

[dasein]

Wes and Benson both have fantastic left hand technique. They check all the boxes:

- elbow and shoulder relaxed, elbow hanging under the hand instead of jutting to the side
- no excessive finger abduction
- no excessive bending in the distal phalanx
- instrument position adjusted to accommodate their playing, not the other way around

The fact that they don't use their pinky is inconsequential. That's a stylistic choice. I would far rather see a player just stick to 3 fingers instead of trying to use all 4 but doing it in a way that destroys their hands in the long run.

The Argerich Rule is a good one to keep in mind: if someone can still play at a virtuoso level into their 70's, without a noticeable loss in their technique, and without it looking like they're now trying to fight the instrument, you cannot call their technique "bad."

We never got that chance with Wes, but we did with Benson. Haven't seen him recently, but I saw him maybe 10-ish years ago, when he was in his 70's. He was still absolutely burning, and he barely looked like he was breaking a sweat. That's good technique, sorry.

Wes was the same way, even when he was playing difficult stuff, he looked like he was taking a relaxing stroll around the block.

[SOLR]

I should get into that. Just show up and start playing until they pay me to go away.


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S

[noisyneil]

Not sure if anyone posted this already but it's recent and relevant.

[AllanAllen]

I wish a LOT more people WOULD hold themselves back.
The number of absolute shit musicians out there is astonishing.
It's so awful, and the worst are the clueless morons enabling and praising them to the skies.
It's always been like this and it always will be, and even though there is little to be done about it, it doesn't lessen my hatred for these charlatans and their "fans".

Are we still talking about Jazz hobbyists here?

[sully75]

I watched the Chase video. It's really good.

Regardless of anything else, Peter's speaking style is fatiguing to me. I've clocked a number of his videos where it's like "the secret of the ________" and it's just him rambling for 15 minutes from a live stream. I don't doubt he knows what he's talking about and he plays beautifully but there's already so much well produced jazz education out there. I try not to watch too many videos but Chase's videos are all concise and helpful.