Re: grumpy loopers, genius vs. jerk

["James Pokorny" <j.pokorny@worldnet.att.net>]

>>If you must dis Fripp's stage demeanor, please do so elsewhere. :-)!
>
>Apart from the artist-in-question's attitude, Mr. Pokorny never said how 
>he
>otherwise enjoyed the performance... Nor did he reveal who the ornery
>looper was for that matter

Good call, Tim!  I should have mentioned that the music itself was
absolutely incredible.  The performer, whom I would prefer not to name, had
a virtuosic command of the instrument (which was NOT a guitar, but did have
some of those unmentionable taut wire things on it ;-} ), and also had a
real mastery of the technology, pedals, and looping equipment.  I was most
impressed by the textures, melodies, rhythms and complex arrangements all
generated by one person through one instrument and devices.  If the music
had not been so compelling I would have left after the first piece because 
I
resent being insulted by any performer.  I don't expect every musician to
"work the crowd" or to win an audience over with their charming 
personality,
but I don't think it's too great a stretch of the imagination to realize
that people who have paid money to hear you play should be treated with
decency and respect.

This brings up a somewhat off-topic point that's been brought up recently
and has been plaguing me for quite some time:  how to separate the art from
the artist, especially when the art is sublime but the artist is a
miserable, misanthropic so-and-so.  Some examples that immediately come to
mind:  Richard Wagner, Ezra Pound, Pablo Picasso, Graham Greene, Lou Reed, 
.
. .  I'm sure that everyone can think of many other examples from the 
worlds
of music, art, literature, etc.  It's impossible not to admire their 
immense
talent or genius, but hard to reconcile the pain and grief that they 
brought
either to immediate friends and family, or to vast numbers of people 
unknown
to them (e.g., the very public anti-Semitism of Wagner and Pound).

I don't want to get too far OT, but I always have difficulty in isolating
the greatness of the art because conscience kicks in and urges "Yeah, but 
he
was such a jerk!"

James Pokorny