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Chords & Discords
Nostalgia Addition
I enjoyed this year’s DownBeat
Readers Poll (December ’09) winners
and I’d like to suggest adding another
category: a “Nostalgia” page that
would honor the big band years that
gave us such great musicians and
vocalists. For those of us able to
recall those wonderful years, it would
be a nice gesture on the part of
DownBeat to make this addition. Two
vocalists (who are still performing
these days)—Peggy King and Harry
Prime—immediately come to mind,
and I’ll bet many of us would be
happy to vote for all the other artists
who are gone or still with us. It’s
something to think about for next
time around.
Herb Stark
Massapequa, N.Y.
SUBSCRIBE!
1-877-904-JAZZ
No Flamenco
I am writing in regards of the review
of my album Calima, written by Chris
Robinson (“Reviews,” November ’09).
I appreciate Mr. Robinson for taking
the time to listen to my album and
write about it in such a well-respected
magazine. While I absolutely respect
his opinion about Calima, I would like
to point to two technical mistakes.
The review mentions that I play an
acoustic guitar. This is not correct. I
play a classic guitar (also called
Spanish guitar). These are two completely
different instruments with different
sizes, woods, and most importantly,
different strings (the classic guitar is
made by nylon strings, whereas the acoustic
guitar is made by metal strings). In addition, I
am surprised to be considered a flamenco
guitar player. I have never played flamenco
and have no training in flamenco; instead my
training is in classical music. Other critics have
mentioned that one can sense some flamenco
influences in my music. This may be true
because I am from Spain, but I am not a “flamenco
guitarist,” as any flamenco guitarist
would tell you. In fact, flamenco music is
never played with an acoustic guitar.
Diego Barber
dibari@hotmail.com
More Bass, Especially Holland
I was reading about Jaco Pastorius and I
noticed he was voted into DownBeat’s Hall of
Fame a little bit after he died. I also took note
that he was only one in four bassists elected
to the Hall of Fame. The other bass players in
the hall are very deserving but I couldn't help
DownBeat In The House
I had the second-by-second thrill of being present
at WBGO’s “Champions Of Jazz” benefit
at New York’s Frederick P. Rose Hall (“The
Beat,” January). And was DownBeat ever in
the house! That night will have eternal swing
in my memory just as DownBeat does so well
what the Bible teaches: “save what remains.”
DownBeat: a living archival treasury of all that
is “Jazz, Blues and Beyond.”
Francis Scanlon
New York City
but notice that Dave Holland is missing. Is
Downbeat going to wait until he dies to vote
him in? Try and name a bad album he has
played on. Try and name even a subpar
album he has played on. The man plays the
bass in an extraordinary way and has played
with the best. He has followed in the footsteps
of Miles and recruited younger talent to play
with him in hopes that they will attempt to
build a career. Quite simply, the man is one of
the biggest draws in jazz music today and
always puts on a beautiful show.
Austin Smith
austin@swschmitz.com
Correction
Jon Gordon’s 2008 CD Within Worlds,
which received a 4 1 /2-star rating, should
have been included in the January issue’s
listing of best albums of the decade.
DownBeat regrets the error.
Have a chord or discord? E-mail us at editor@downbeat.com.
10 DOWNBEAT March 2010