I enjoyed Howard Reich’s take on jazz (“The Art of Criticism,” June 14). I also thank Howard for the $10 I won from my wife for predicting he would take a hit at vocalist/pianist Diane Krall.
When I was in my early teens, I was captured by Chuck Mangione’s “Feel So Good.” I was listening to it at my best friend’s house, when his father pointed out that it really wasn’t the best jazz had to offer. Little did I know that my friend’s father took alto lessons from Jackie McLean. My world was soon opened up to Chet Baker, Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus and John Coltrane.
Appreciating Ornette Coleman, for instance, takes time. Only after listening to a mainstream but respectable musician such as Krall can one appreciate the vocal intricacies of Betty Carter or the piano stylings of Thelonius Monk.
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