Not everyone is on Facebook. To not be part of the global monster is like having a black and white tele or even having no tele at all. However, despite all the vitriol, the fake news, the "If I was in charge ..." outpourings of tortured souls and lunatics there are also sensible and perceptive posts.
Scott Black's tales of life in Hong Kong as an expatriate American cornet player are like an updated, relocated, version of Eddie Condon's "We Called it Music" - the first great jazz autobiography. Many of Scott's tales have been Kindled - I look forward to the paperback version (Luddite that I am).
Moving closer to home, Simon Spillett's posts are equally compelling. Coincidentally, both lost their fathers recently and it shows in their posts. Simon, apart from being at the forefront of UK tenor playing, is also a very literate person as his Tubby Hayes' biography -
The Long Shadow of the Little Giant - shows.
On F/b Simon bares it all, the doubts, the self criticism, the could have done better ...
We sympathise, who hasn't had those thoughts? Probably God? -
particularly God! - it's something everyone must go through at sometime or other whether they be a politician or a jazz musician.
Who am I to say that Simon's doubts are unfounded? A million tenor players would die to have those self-doubts!
It was probably similar self-doubts that led Sonny Rollins to the Williamsburg Bridge. All I can say to Simon is, be true to thyself - not many musicians are but I suspect you are one of them.
Lance.
No comments :
Post a Comment