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Yeah, and Miles Davis never had a "look at me" attitude. (Sarcasm) On May 19, 2008, at 5:13 PM, John McIntyre wrote: > Buzap Buzap wrote: > >> I'm pleased to see that I've hit the nerve with this subject :-)) >> >> I would like to add one more thing to this comment: >> >> I believe that the last sentence is only half the truth. True: It >> is the artist's task to "reach the unreachable". >> > OK, sorry, but my English major side is poking through here. I > think you mean "It is the artist's task to "reach for the > unreachable", as, by definition, one cannot reach the unreachable. > Or, as a far better poet than I once said (and I fully expect the > list to be inundated with people who can remember which poet it was > (-8): "A man's reach must 'er exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven > for?" > >> Howeever, if you are a _performing_ artist, the goal is different. >> I believe even Miles Davis - who has been known for a certain >> dislike of his audience -, when playing in a bar etc, would only >> be satisfied if there would be at least one person in the audience >> he could reach with his music. >> > Ah, but how could he tell? His performances vastly touched me and > influenced my music in so many ways, but how could he tell? I'm a > jive-ass honky, and my reaction to an epiphany (which Miles > delivered at several concerts) is a dumbfounded, slackjawed "let me > go think about this for a millenia or so". Yeah, I was on my feet > clapping, but he got that much when he simply walked on stage. And > there is the question that while I can see his influence on my > music, would he recognize it? And if he did recognize it, would he > want to acknowledge it? (0-8 > > Sorry, I'm not sure what my point was. It's just that any mention > of Miles Davis pushes my buttons. (-8 > > John McIntyre > mcintyre@pa.msu.edu > >> So, I think as _performing_ artists, you need to be in touch both >> with the "heavens/unreachable/unkown/creative force..." as well as >> the ordinariy people in your audience. If you just focus on one of >> these two, you will be either a bitter, unrecognized genius in his >> own musical world or a plain ego booster putting his narcissistic >> self into display. >> But playing for an audience, pleasing them, being in touch with >> them is - with the right attitude and vision - not about a big ego >> but about a big HEART. >> >> My most significant exprience on this was this: >> I used to push my muscic more into complexity, speed, wild >> rhythms, sophistication. Then coincidentally, I bought a live >> recording of Elizabeth Cotten. She was already very old on the >> recording and singing with a cracked voice. But she was a lovely >> woman, telling a story to her audience and TOUCHING the hearts of >> people. >> >> http://youtube.com/watch?v=Tm5-WdB_aVE >> >> This has changed my musical life. >> And I would always trade a [add your favorite rock/jazz/fusion >> virtuoso here] solo to a simple song of hers. >> >> Buzap >> >> >> >> >> >