[Tradjazz] Knocking Other Musicians

[Steve Barbone]

"Bruce McNichols" <muskrat at bestweb.net> wrote (polite snip)
 
> I've tried to not knock the guys I've worked with and perhaps that means that
> I'm a wimp. 

Not at all, Bruce, IMO musicians should never knock other musicians, at
least, not publicly. Let the "critics" and/or the "fans" do that. Why should
we demean the profession by knocking another musician?

Like those who knock Kenny G because "he is a lousy JAZZ musician". Shoot,
he never claimed to be a jazz musician, and in fact he has denied that he is
a jazz musician, more than once publicly. Yet we jazz musicians continue
spout off that  Kenny G can't play jazz. Well, hello?

As for me, I have a framed saying in my home office, that I plagiarized from
an artist friend of mine in West Chester PA. He was very good, and very
successful He had this hand painted sign at the entrance to his studio:

ALL THOSE WHO ENTER THIS STUDIO
Please Spare Me Your Praise or Criticism.
I Will Not Be Swayed By Either.
For I Know What I am Doing.
And I Am Not Doing It Specifically For You.

Neat philosophy by which to live. If someone believes in what he or she
does, who am I to knock it? Plus, if we, as "artists" can truly follow that
philosophy, we are impervious to those who don't like what we do. And there
will always be those who don't like what we do, whether we are Tony Scott,
Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Eddie Daniels, or Steve Barbone and Bruce McN.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone