The tastes of others...

[Ian Thumwood]

I was really struck by this interview which kicks off a new series of interviews where jazz musicians are asked to nominate their favourite records. In some respects it is not too surprising that this musician should select something outside of jazz (especially in relation to his later recording) but I was curious enough to check out this record from the samples on Amazon. What amazed me is the fact that there is so little real music on the tracks and it is difficult to see anything of any merit in the choice. Even from a rhythmic point of view, the music is anodyne in the extreme. Staggering to think anyone let aside a musician could find anything of interest:-

http://http://www.allaboutjazz.com/p...e.php?id=43955

[Nick Armstrong]

Alas that link's giving me just: Sorry, the website http cannot be found

Looking at the bit we can see, there's one "http://" too many, and I can't edit it...

[amateur51]

Seems to be a dodgy link, Ian

Cross-post with Cali

[MrGongGong]

I think ?
he might mean this article

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=43955#.USKRV45BAUU

?

Here's a track

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkdVhMIxkF4

Seems to have "real music" to my ears
complaining about the lack of rhythmic inventiveness on a hip hop album is a bit like being unhappy about oranges not tasting cheesy enough

[Quarky]

A clue to Robert Glasper's views may be found in his recent album: http://robertglasper.com/

2013 Grammy Award winners Best R&B Album - Black Radio! http://www.amazon.com/gp/recsradio/r...gSuffix=dp_img

But should we expect any professional artist or musician (or politician?) operating in a commercial environment to give an opinion, other than that which suits his purpose?

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Good point. We, ourselves, accept every, and any petty career move going to advance, yet hurl abuse and sell out at any musician going with the tide to survive. As if "they dont have to feed people too". As I think Cannonball Adderley once said.

BN.

[Ian Thumwood]

A clue to Robert Glasper's views may be found in his recent album: http://robertglasper.com/

2013 Grammy Award winners Best R&B Album - Black Radio! http://www.amazon.com/gp/recsradio/r...gSuffix=dp_img

But should we expect any professional artist or musician (or politician?) operating in a commercial environment to give an opinion, other than that which suits his purpose?

Oddball

That is a good response. However, I am not quite so shocked that a jazz musician holds a piece of popular music up as one of his favourite discs rather the fact that the sample chosen seems so lacking in anything of any music merit. Here is a sample:-

I would have no issue with Robert Glasper singling out someone like Stevie Wonder, Prince, Micahel Jackson or even more contemporary singers like Erykah Badu as I think there are artists who have produced music with largely recognised as being talented. Rap is actually ok-ish in a jazz context but the use of "beats" is just pretty tired and something of a regression to my ears . It is strange as I really like Robert Glasper's piano playing and judging from the rapport he has with his audience he is definitely someone who is very amusing and the kind of character that you would like to hang out with. When I was on holiday last year all the kids were playing his record "Black Radio" on their Ipods and I even caught a car driving past wit the music blasting out of the window. I know Calum was critical of it last year but the tracks I've heard are alright as far as I am concerned and the fact that it is still being sold on Maazon for full price is suggestive that this is a bit of a money spinner. Even if you take his love of popular music in to the equation, the Slum Village disc sounds tinny and dull. I would be bored by more than 5 minutes of the whole record.

[MrGongGong]

Maybe he simply doesn't divide music up in the way that you do ?
This is a rather odd statement

"Rap is actually ok-ish in a jazz context but the use of "beats" is just pretty tired and something of a regression to my ears "

This is a hip hop album therefore it contains beats ... because that's what hip hop has lots of
what do you listen on ?
to my ears it's hardly "tinny"

not my favourite thing but I don't think you are comparing like with like at all

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

I know Calum was critical of it last year

ahem .....




yeah one person's cognitive consistency is another person's aesthetic disaster innit ....

it is easy ... i don't like hip hop rap pap or Glasper very much at all ... nor serialism - thank heavens for Ligeti, he escaped the row

[MrGongGong]

thank heavens for Ligeti,

No Diggity