Thursday, July 26, 2007

Respect To Wynton Marsalis

Here's a link suggested to me by my neighbor, Stevens Jay Carter. Check it out. I plan to comment on this remarkable set of observations by noted jazz musician Wynton Marsalis, very soon, short stack, when time permits. Now let me be frank. I must confess in all sincerity that I have never been even a casual fan of jazz the genre, nor do I expect to be any time soon, and thus am not familiar with the musical manifestations of Marsalis, although clearly I am aware of his name and reputation.

I respect jazz in all of its forms, chilled, or hot off the stove, don't get me wrong. But I simply march to a different drummer, and really don't feel a need to apologize for this lack of appreciation for what is often considered by pundits the ONLY truly original American art form. But the PLAIN WORDS of this jazz master moved me, that is to say, filled me with energy.

And it is from this latter perspective that I wish to honor the philosophical content of the Marsalis perspective as indicated in this fifteen minute video. But I want to thoroughly familiarize myself with his words, parse them succinctly, and then return with my own remarks. This process will join those other duties I'm facing in the near future, but let me assure you, I am viscerally inspired by the many fascinating points Marsalis made in these fifteen minutes.

Thanks Stevens for the link...

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