I thought today’s column might give you an indication as to mindset in terms of reviewing. The Irving Berlin song ‘Homework’ I’m listening to hasn’t anything to do with what follows apart from its title – the lyrics by the way just saying are quite preposterous from a 2025 point of view unless you happen to subscribe to the deeply wayward Maga ideological idea of being a tradwife that is! It’s beautifully sung by Sarah Vaughan who is a huge inspiration on singers like Samara Joy today.
Anyway the one thing – and this is a problem in terms of reaction out there – this blog doesn’t do – is mark its own homework.
What I mean by that is that reviews here are written from a neutral perspective based only on listening experience. I am not a musician. I am not an agent nor I am a promoter or PR. I don’t run reviews because the advertiser gives me a nudge either or follow producer guidelines something that makes a lot of radio coverage rigidly playlist driven often shaped by behind the scene pluggers and industry lobbyists.
The point is that proper jazz journalism is opinion and fact. It isn’t cross marketing by a brand, an artist or a promoter/publicist in disguise. There is no agenda. There is a freedom about being organic.
Musicians who are writers aren’t fair witnesses I have always felt even if they of course have a knowing perspective that is useful. But it’s a musician perspective not a representative of the listening public listening as a member of the listening public. You know what’s a harsh criticism often doled out by the rock press although sometimes it is true – and it will take another article to explain why – the stuff is too muso. Could a musician ever write that?
These days there is more hype than ever. A reader can read between the lines but often you have to go with an author you believe in who you kind of can take or leave but still read.
Anyone can listen in a democracy. Anyone can have an opinion in a democracy. It’s healthy. Everyone’s a critic even if that isn’t always obvious or soi disant. Fundamentally what I do here is offer ideas and present a choice to go with the drift. It’s up to you whether you wish to choose recommendations or buy into the commentary. Other blogs are available. But let’s not stifle genuine reaction or smother it in schmooze. You can make decent points even if the editorial direction happens to be positive, kind and jazz partisan. And certainly marlbank is pro jazz, not anti, unlike a lot of outlets writing about music. Just so you know if it isn’t already screamingly obvious.
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