An interesting blog entry by Chris Rich

[Christiern]

I would be interested in hearing comments on this entry by Chris Rich on his blog, Brilliant Corners, which is a spot well worth paying a regular visit to.*

BTW, it can always be reached via Stomp Off

[John L]

Interesting, although I do not understand why or how Rich believes that Kelley's book is having an impact on how jazz is being played today.

Edited January 25, 2010 by John L

[Larry Kart]

Seems to me to be pretty much written in code, but as much as I can sort out, I agree with his point about the likely Burns Effect but doubt there is much Kelley Effect in the sense Rich seems to mean (Kelley's Monk bio altering the way worthwhile music is being made and perceived in the present), in part because I seem to be one of the few people who find Kelley's book disappointing. For all his research, I get little sense that he has much understanding of why Monk's music was and still is important as MUSIC; if so (and I'm not saying I'm right, just that this is how Kelley's book strikes me), then the book is more or less another exercise in adding another immobile noble statue to the cultural museum and is thus not far removed from one key strain of Marsalis-ism. (Also, it may be just an irrelevant verbal tic on Rich's part, but his mention of Steve Lantner's playing being enjoyed by "the Vandermarks" made me think of '50s Broadway columnist telling us who was at the Stork Club last night.)

In any case, the good music I go out to hear with some regularity (and enjoy with other somewhat like-minded people around me) is being made on its own good terms, as far as I can tell. Actually, last night one of the guys I like, Chicago guitarist Matt Schneider, was playing a fairly obscure Monk piece by himself (don't recall the title) to warm up before the set, but I don't think he was in the grip of the Kelley Effect because I've heard him play that piece more than a few times over the years -- and not, I would venture to say, to pay tribute to Monk or the like but because it's simply music that interests Schneider as a musician, has some bearing on things he likes, or would like, to do himself. Isn't that the way it's supposed to work?