Jazzrook
I feel the same about Zorn. There have been a number of Israeli jazz musicians who have appeared on the scene in the last fifteen or so years such as the two Avisihai Cohen's, Anat Cohen and Gilad Heskelman and I do feel a bit guilty about supporting these musicians. In the case of Anat Cohen, she was served in the Israeli military which makes it difficult for me to appreciate her music fully. I think that a future Labour government will do the right thing and ban Israeli artists from performing in the UK when they get elected. I appreciate that music and politics can be argued has being required to be kept separate but I am not aware of any of these musicians making critical statements of the policies of the state of Israel or it does not get reported in the UK. It is quite interesting to listen to the current debate about Anti- Semitism in the Labour Party because whilst there is probably an issue within it where this is a case, the Jewish community is largely silent and uncritical about Israel. I cannot recall this fact ever getting much attention apart from the lone voice of publications like "The Morning Star." This is a marked contrast with the media attacks on the Muslim community when some from within refused to get on board in the war in Iraq. You can start to see this as part of a broader picture. However, I would say that Israel is a really easy target and there are plenty of other dysfunctional countries who could similarly be singled out for criticism especially Saudi Arabia.
As far as the article is concerned, I note that it describes all four musicians in Masada as being Jewish but this is not correct (Dave Douglas is the exception - incidentally, a musician who has recorded an album of Christian hymns) and I wonder how much else is inaccurate. But I agree that Zorn's stance probably sits uneasy in the UK whilst probably being received more favourably in the US. I think that Zorn has, intriguingly enough, non-Jewish musicians within his groups such as Pat Metheny, Dave Douglas, Joe Lovano etc in to his projects. I am also only aware of his working with one black musician, George Lewis although I might be mistaken in this respect. I have found this pretty surprising, to be honest.
I feel the same about Zorn. There have been a number of Israeli jazz musicians who have appeared on the scene in the last fifteen or so years such as the two Avisihai Cohen's, Anat Cohen and Gilad Heskelman and I do feel a bit guilty about supporting these musicians. In the case of Anat Cohen, she was served in the Israeli military which makes it difficult for me to appreciate her music fully. I think that a future Labour government will do the right thing and ban Israeli artists from performing in the UK when they get elected. I appreciate that music and politics can be argued has being required to be kept separate but I am not aware of any of these musicians making critical statements of the policies of the state of Israel or it does not get reported in the UK. It is quite interesting to listen to the current debate about Anti- Semitism in the Labour Party because whilst there is probably an issue within it where this is a case, the Jewish community is largely silent and uncritical about Israel. I cannot recall this fact ever getting much attention apart from the lone voice of publications like "The Morning Star." This is a marked contrast with the media attacks on the Muslim community when some from within refused to get on board in the war in Iraq. You can start to see this as part of a broader picture. However, I would say that Israel is a really easy target and there are plenty of other dysfunctional countries who could similarly be singled out for criticism especially Saudi Arabia.
As far as the article is concerned, I note that it describes all four musicians in Masada as being Jewish but this is not correct (Dave Douglas is the exception - incidentally, a musician who has recorded an album of Christian hymns) and I wonder how much else is inaccurate. But I agree that Zorn's stance probably sits uneasy in the UK whilst probably being received more favourably in the US. I think that Zorn has, intriguingly enough, non-Jewish musicians within his groups such as Pat Metheny, Dave Douglas, Joe Lovano etc in to his projects. I am also only aware of his working with one black musician, George Lewis although I might be mistaken in this respect. I have found this pretty surprising, to be honest.
Comment