[NewMusic] Peacock: A baboon's ass?

[David Slusser]

On Aug 1, 2007, at 11:58 AM, grobair at emusician.com wrote:
> Damon sniffed:
> <<http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=18112
> Man, I love Gary Peacock. Finally someone with some integrity...>>
>
> I like Dworkin's quote in that article:
> <<Our respect of an artist's ability (Peacock is unquestionably a  
> great
> bassist) shouldn't mute our criticisms of their actions when they're
> hurtful, inciteful and plainly vain.>>
>
> That's exactly my point regarding people like Cecil Taylor, when  
> they act
> disrespectfully towards others (musicians, promoters, fans, whatever).
> Unlike Damon, I don't feel that jazz innovators should be allowed  
> to be
> assholes to people and not get called on it, just as I don't think  
> that
> being president allows you to gut the constitution of your country  
> based on
> your "faith" and not get called on it.
>
> It's nice when a pair of assholes are in the same band (Jarrett/ 
> Peacock),
> because it makes boycotting their music that much easier.

FWIT - (I have a little time off, so I actually got to read some of  
this.)

My reading of the situation, as presented, is that Gary Peacock merely
declined to play when approached by Costello shortly before the gig.
The "rockstar" quote came from later, and I'd have to get a copy of
Jazztimes Magazine (not likely) to see how Bill Milkowski posed the
question.  There's no attribution that Peacock was even referring to
Costello when he said it.  Though it's likely he was, I take it as an
offhand comment from someone who has paid enough dues for this
to be totally trivial.  I think Dworkin, whose adoration of pop music
I don't share, is way off bass in his criticisms, and as Damon noted,
this is a pretty common occurrence - where the bass player is thought
of as part of the house (like the PA and the piano).

Keith Jarrett, on the other hand...let's just say he has a fatal flaw.