[NewMusic] best of

[Phillip Greenlief]

-----Original Message-----
On Behalf Of George Cremaschi
Subject: Re: [NewMusic] best of

As far as "bowing down" to the East Bay Express goes,
well I'm not advocating that. Obviously, it's a completely
stupid, corporate rag. Still, after all these years, I can't help
but notice the cycle of a) bitching about not getting any
press and then b) picking it apart, line by line, when it
actually happens.

PG:
I'm just trying to put the "press" in perspective here...

I know you know this, but I've learned that local press is something
that is really hard to derive any real satisfaction from...it's your
home town paper and for me, not wholly unlike getting a good review from
your mom. 

I am much happier when I get "press" (an actual review, not a
sound-byte) from someone that doesn't know me and lives in a town that I
rarely frequent - then it seems a little more real, a little more
sincere somehow - or at least not "prodded" in any real way. They have
no reason to pay allegiance to me - so it has a little more impact. But
really, when's the last time you took a review of your work seriously?
When's the last time you changed your playing because a critic said
something about your music? Ultimately, it doesn't have much impact on
my work. I just keep exploring and finding new things to work
on...hopefully. If the press likes it, fine. If they don't, that's fine
too. I don't lose sleep over bad reviews (ironically, or strangely
enough, I've only had one negative review so far and it wasn't bad -
just off base - the critic didn't like it that the first Trio Putanesca
CD didn't have any "barn burners" or "flag wavers" - as if that was what
we were up to...). So maybe it's easier for me to shrug it off - I don't
really take any of those "good" reviews seriously, Mostly because I
don't think I deserve them.

I think EBE does this sort of thing because they think they have to -
(oh yeah, we forgot to acknowledge that little sub-genre of freaks over
there off Broadway again)...not unlike the Academy Awards, only no red
carpets, no fashion photographers, no television coverage, and oh yeah -
no where near the economic status.  And we have just as much "glamour" -
Aurora could kick Scarlett Johansen's ass any day of the week on the red
carpet, and guys like you and Jacob are better looking than Mark Ruffalo
or Tom Cruise...if only we could get you guys in an Armani tuxedo...then
the world would agree with me, I'm sure.
;)


George:
I'm not sure what reaction folks expect when they blow
into the bell of their trumpet, but I'd say take a cue from
Cage (see the YouTube clip referenced here last week)
and expect laughter and derision, show grace and good
humor in the face of it, and then kick ass in spite of it.

PG:
Excellent advice! 

George:
And finally, concerning "Escape from 21Grand":
an endless jam, with mostly dudes, and a couple of
bottles of Two-Buck Chuck? Uh, I think I'm out of town
that week...

PG:
Can't even begin to comment on that one...we're definitely on tour that
week.