Pat is honest. However, the criticism coming from a guy who sometimes delves into elevator music, himself, is a bit less poignant than if it came from Sonny Rollins or Archie Shepp. But, again, coming from a guitar player, it is better than from these sax geniuses, as their comments would be considered sour grapes.
Miles Davis was the nastiest of mean commentators. His blindfold tests at "Downbeat" magazine were fighting words. One of my favorite was when they played him a piano solo. "Stop it," Miles said. "The man didn't write that tune to be played like that." The composer was Duke Ellington. The pianist was Duke Ellington. <G>
Another favorite was when he said "Ornette Coleman cannot play a scale without making a mistake." Many believe that Miles, himself, was a composing, band leading, improvising genius who could not play a scale on the trumpet without making a mistake. Miles the critic and the critics of Miles were both wrong. Would "Bird" really take the stage with a trumpeter who couldn't play a scale without making a mistake? |
