Kids’ Stuff Not for These Kids

I found Don Heckman’s piece regarding young jazz singers and their ever-growing younger audience of great interest and quite on target (“The Search Is On,” April 14). A lifelong musician, I have watched my three sons’ interest in music evolve over the past few years. My oldest, at 14, is the pianist in his high school jazz band. The contemporary landscape of popular music inspires little but boredom in all but the dullest of the young--hence the present state of the business.

I must concur with “The Great One,” Mr. Dylan, in his extraordinary interview with Robert Hilburn, which appeared previously in Calendar. Architecture might very well be an interesting option for the creative young person, given the artistic quality of today’s pop music artist.

As one who spends a great amount of time in the company of young musicians, including my son’s associates and Righteous Brother Bill Medley’s incredibly talented daughter, McKenna (of whom we will hear much), I really can’t imagine an intelligent young person aspiring to be Britney Spears or the lead singer of Staind.

My son, for one, is more drawn to interesting intervals than interesting tattoos, smoking techniques or breast implants. And he knows who Tony Blair is as well.

SHAYNE FAIR

Laguna Beach

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I’m surprised Don Heckman did not mention one of the best female jazz singer-piano players on the current scene: Patricia Barber. So I guess I’ll have to. She’s hip, cool, intelligent, moody, swinging and smoky-sounding, in the Annie Ross-Sheila Jordan tradition. Barber has them all beat, including Diana Krall. I wish that she would come to L.A.

ALLAN V. PENA

San Pedro