Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2001 13:20:32 +0100 From: "Mike Pritchard" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: Covering NJC (long)
First of all, Mike, I enjoyed reading your thoughts about writing vs. literature and how things become/are valued in that world. Mike said >>To try and tie in Fred and Marian's arguments I would agree with both of them up to a point....<< >> Marian, Kenny G may be able to play better now than when he was younger and may be putting more effort and 'art' into his playing and that effort does have value, but for me he is objectively and subjectively inferior to Wayne Shorter, Jan Garbarek and Courtney Pine to talk of only three current soprano players. << And I feel like you miss the point if you try to put our arguments together, because we are talking about different things. Fred is talking about determining excellence by comparing the artistic products of one musician to those of another or others, which is what you also seem to be talking about in your comments about Wayne Shorter vs. Kenny G. I have never heard Kenny G. play and I would probably agree with you that Wayne Shorter plays better than him and most other people for that matter, but I don't like going there. I feel there is something inherently bad/wrong in making these kinds of comparisons/judgments. As a mom, I make a big effort not to compare one child with another. I try to be supportive of all of their creative and other efforts at learning and growing. In my view, in an ideal world, we would all approach each other in this manner. We would all urge/encourage each other to find and express what is inside. It is my view that criticizing others is a way of avoiding exploring one's own creative urges/abilities. Marian
