| Writer perpetuates jazz stereotype
Re: Jazz for the People, by Tom Babin, Music, Aug. 29
While your coverage of Pat Maiani's C-Jazz Festival is admirable, I take exception to the article when author Tom Babin writes " ... part of his mission is to destroy the notion that jazz can only be enjoyed by wispy-bearded music snobs."
Is the author quoting Maiani or is he merely making note of his own small-minded perspective of the music? I have been listening to jazz for 40 years, and I have attended dozens of jazz clubs around this continent, but I have yet to encounter a jazz audience of "wispy-bearded musical snobs."
Unfortunately, an ill-researched comment like that of Mr. Babin's may create a false stereotype about the music. It is exactly this kind of journalism that can prevent the uninitiated from attending a jazz concert, and discovering for themselves that the music is about art, expression, literacy and freedom. Jazz certainly is not about uniformed appearances, gimmicks or intellectualism.
Perhaps Fast Forward would be best to leave the genuine music to reviewers like John Reid who can treat the subject with the respect that it deserves.
Curtiss Clarke,
Connaught
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