Nod To His Elders

[sophisticated sissy]

In the current online edition of offbeat, I just read a letter that was penned by corona. A well written piece; good job, corona!

[Belle]

Thanks for the heads up Sissy! Good job Corona

here is the direct link
http://www.offbeat.com/magazine/letters.php

[NYMAMA]

Hey Corona you tell em girl!

[glinda]

Way to go, corona. I love that album!!!

I do find one teeny thread of common ground with the reviewer. You really hear Shamarr's uniqueness shine through best in "The World is a Ghetto," which i could listen to all day.

[festbabe]

Glad to see they printed your letter! We have a friend here in Dallas who is one of our local top traditional jazz players. His comment after hearing the album was how great it was that the next generation is keeping trad jazz alive.

[Corona]

Thanks for the shout out kids but those were not my words. We were having a discussion and Seefood wrote that in an email. We talked about how Offbeat should be told this so I sent it in not thinking it would ever get published..I was pissed too..it did but they are NOT my words. I would have gotten permission to send it and put the right person's name on it if I thought it would be published. They must have tracked my contact info through my email and subscription. Shit... no credit to me, it all goes to Seefood....sorry hunni. I've been doing alot of this mindless crap lately :(

They were great words though! :)

[Orleansnj]

Thanks for the shout out kids but those were not my words. We were having a discussion and Seefood wrote that in an email. We talked about how Offbeat should be told this so I sent it in not thinking it would ever get published..I was pissed too..it did but they are NOT my words. I would have gotten permission to send it and put the right person's name on it if I thought it would be published. They must have tracked my contact info through my email and subscription. Shit... no credit to me, it all goes to Seefood....sorry hunni. I've been doing alot of this mindless crap lately :(

They were great words though! :)

I hardly think that passing along a shout out to Shamarr, irrespective of who wrote it - is a bad idea....nor does it fall within the realm of mindless crap darlin'.... you're a bit too hard on yourself.

I'm sure that Seefood is happy that it is published and won't be bummed that it was under your name....

However, if Offbeat published it without verifying information directly with you - and 'tracked it down' - that does leave open wide the door to question editorial practices ......IMHO.

Don't get me wrong - I love Offbeat and everything they do - but that doesn't give them a pass on journalistic integrity......

[Corona]

Thanks orleans...never thought about that. I should have known better though....thanks for your kind words :)

[ohio]

It needed to be said anyway. Ken will understand.

[sophisticated sissy]

Whoever wrote it, I think it was worth saying. I recall thinking the original review about the CD was somewhat harsh. Of course, critics are free to say whatever they want, but I felt the music on the disc sounded much better than what was written about it.

[Amyloves...]

It needed to be said anyway. Ken will understand.

I'm thinking he'll want to spank you. Be afraid.

[Jordan]

I didn't agree with the review either, but I love that Offbeat doesn't just give every album a positive review. So many reviews I read could be written without even listening to the album

[BigDag]

And they did print Lis/Ken's letter, with an alternative point of view. They could always just trash dissenting opinions.

[Cleophus]

While I have not heard the CD, I found their review to be surprisingly harsh as I've often thought that OffBeat has shied away from being critical of local artists/CDs especially.

It does seem to me that their reviews in general have been more critical in the last year or so... but I'm not sure if that willingness to be more critical is justified in the case of this CD (I should get a copy and make my own judgement, eh!).

[ohio]

I'm thinking he'll want to spank you. Be afraid.
But that's always true... :rolleyes:

[Orleansnj]

While I have not heard the CD, I found their review to be surprisingly harsh as I've often thought that OffBeat has shied away from being critical of local artists/CDs especially.

It does seem to me that their reviews in general have been more critical in the last year or so... but I'm not sure if that willingness to be more critical is justified in the case of this CD (I should get a copy and make my own judgement, eh!).

Funny, I was thinking a similar thing - the reviews in Offbeat seem to be more negative - rather than constructively critical..... It is almost as if the reviewers are angry in some of their pieces.

I don't believe that the critic should be blindly supportive of a local artists music because then they lose their credibility as a critic. However, failing to be balanced in a review is equally damming to one's legitimacy. If you say it's a good album, spend a little time 'educating' the public about the strengths and weaknesses. After all - a critique is as much a teaching tool as it is opinion.

But that's just my unsolicited 23 cents worth.

[Frosty]

Funny, I was thinking a similar thing - the reviews in Offbeat seem to be more negative - rather than constructively critical..... It is almost as if the reviewers are angry in some of their pieces.

I don't believe that the critic should be blindly supportive of a local artists music because then they lose their credibility as a critic. However, failing to be balanced in a review is equally damming to one's legitimacy. If you say it's a good album, spend a little time 'educating' the public about the strengths and weaknesses. After all - a critique is as much a teaching tool as it is opinion.

But that's just my unsolicited 23 cents worth.

This post reminded me of one of the funniest reviews I ever saw and it certainly didn't fit your criteria for a good review, but it sure was appropriate.

In review of the debut album by GTR (Steves Howe & Hackett), the review simply said, "SHT".

[ScoopJohnD]

Boy, I must live on some other planet if THIS is considered a harsh review.
http://offbeat.com/artman/publish/article_2575.shtml

The review basically is saying he's got a world of talent but the material chosen doesn't showcase it. Like if the word was out about some hot shot
blues guitarist and then the cd was nothing but 'Sweet Home Chicago' or 'Baby, What You Want Me To Do'

I like the record, but for me the best stuff is the non trad stuff. Shows what he can do, takes some chances. Just my 2 cents.

[marignygreg]

Yeah, but this is New Orleans, the full page ad was the payola and should have earned a favorable review;)
For the record I have not heard the C.D. , but am glad Offbeat did not let the ad sway its review.

[AtPontchartrain]

Yeah, but this is New Orleans, the full page ad was the payola and should have earned a favorable review;)
For the record I have not heard the C.D. , but am glad Offbeat did not let the ad sway its review.

I have it. I like the way it starts with traditional jazz ensemble and duet and then moves to more contemporary sensibility by the end. It's good and diverse.

[festbabe]

Yeah, but this is New Orleans, the full page ad was the payola and should have earned a favorable review;)
For the record I have not heard the C.D. , but am glad Offbeat did not let the ad sway its review.

Ah - but that's exactly what the Ed mentioned in the reply-to-the-reply, which I agree with. Buying ad space (and how much) should NOT influence critical review (when the review is done appropriately). There's alot of artistic crap that exists in our media/culture that's popular as a result of well-made marketing and p.r. campaigns.

[ohio]

I have it. I like the way it starts with traditional jazz ensemble and duet and then moves to more contemporary sensibility by the end. It's good and diverse.
agree!

[mightyradgumbo]

Funny, I was thinking a similar thing - the reviews in Offbeat seem to be more negative - rather than constructively critical..... It is almost as if the reviewers are angry in some of their pieces.

I don't believe that the critic should be blindly supportive of a local artists music because then they lose their credibility as a critic. However, failing to be balanced in a review is equally damming to one's legitimacy. If you say it's a good album, spend a little time 'educating' the public about the strengths and weaknesses. After all - a critique is as much a teaching tool as it is opinion.

But that's just my unsolicited 23 cents worth.

I think it was a well written review-it praised Shamarr as an artist, said it was a good album (sorry, cd) and thought the non-trad stuff at the end was very good. The writer just disagreeed with Shamarr's rendition of what the writer feels are songs that are either overplayed or need to be played in a non-trad way to make them stand out.

That being said, I disagree with the review. It is not well thought-out. He doesn't listen to the cd, he sees the songs and sees the versions as they are and thinks that Shamarr should play them differently. Hello, that is why it is called TRAD jazz! To say that he doesn't have the chops to expand his musical influence is crazy. Anybody that has seen the man go from gig to gig, playing with the likes of Bob French one part of the night and then jumps up and plays with PGF the next, sees that Shamarr has the ability to transcend trad jazz. Lastly, he says that it could be a Kermit or Bob French album-like that is a bad thing to be compared to.

[sophisticated sissy]

I thought he could have been at least a little more constructive in his criticism and more encouraging to a young artist on his freshman release. I still like the album. At least the guy was interested enough and took the time to review it.

[breambob]

I thought the review was fair, but I disagreed with much of it.
Big mistake was getting seefood and corona pissed. LMAO :)

I love it when the fur flies...

[bluedog]

I have it. I like the way it starts with traditional jazz ensemble and duet and then moves to more contemporary sensibility by the end. It's good and diverse.
ditto!!!

[Corona]

I love you guys and read some of this stuff to Shamarr over the phone tonight. He got all sappy and talked about how much he truly appreciates the support he's received over the years from the Threadheads. He wants everyone to know how meaningful we are to him :)

[csoul]

I love you guys and read some of this stuff to Shamarr over the phone tonight. He got all sappy and talked about how much he truly appreciates the support he's received over the years from the Threadheads. He wants everyone to know how meaningful we are to him :)

Well, hey now. I'm late to this party, but this thread raised my curiosity and I've been listening for the last 20 minutes or so and I will be purchasing. Let Mr. Shamarr know that we don't need no stinkin' critics to pick our music for us!

[Corona]

:D Thatta girl!

[bluedog]

Well, hey now. I'm late to this party, but this thread raised my curiosity and I've been listening for the last 20 minutes or so and I will be purchasing. Let Mr. Shamarr know that we don't need no stinkin' critics to pick our music for us!
it's really a great CD! Gets my "backfield in motion"!

[mightyradgumbo]

I love you guys and read some of this stuff to Shamarr over the phone tonight. He got all sappy and talked about how much he truly appreciates the support he's received over the years from the Threadheads. He wants everyone to know how meaningful we are to him :)

He is part of the TH family and where I come from you mess with my family, you mess with me ;)

[Corona]

you got it bro :)