Roaring Back

It is interesting that the tone of Marsalis’ remarks about post-bop jazz seems strangely reminiscent of the derogatory remarks made by traditionalists about be-bop when it first appeared on the scene several decades ago.

For all his knowledge and musicianship, Marsalis seems to have forgotten that jazz is a dynamic art form that, at its best, involves creative risk and in which change is thus inherent, something that Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Charles Mingus, Gil Evans and dozens of other talented visionaries knew so well.

Arguing about what jazz is and isn’t is a job best left to the perspective of time, which historically has had no problem separating the wheat from the chaff or, to use Marsalis’ terms, the “corn” from the “pure jazz.”

Marsalis’ dedication to jazz education is to be commended; however, he would do better to put his self-righteous hot air through his horn, where he speaks with infinitely more eloquence. I hope it’s not true, but the jazz “Neoclassicists” are sounding more and more like the jazz “Neofascists.”

Pure corn, Wynton, pure corn.

RICHARD PARKER

Pasadena