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New Zealand Listener, Volume 32, Issue 824, 13 May 1955, Page 5

Sir-"A.E.H."’ was unwise to enter so boldly the controversial arena of jazz (Listener, April 22). For his’ was merely a display of superficial criticism, which certainly portrayed his personal contempt of jazz, but hardly served to direct others to that path. Cavorting with a few indiscriminate adjectives, he stated his case against jazz. The argument was as insipid as the

language ill-chosen. With a predilection for the much ballyhooed "aesthetic training" for the appreciation of classical music, he has lost sight of the fact that jazz, too, requires much the same from the listener. He has fallen into the trap of deriding what he does not under-stand-a trap which should have been foreseen by one who has evidently taken such painstaking hours to appreciate music. He also made a rather common mistake; that of decrying all jazz on the evidently haphazard hearing of a few records. Would a criticism of classical music based on a rendition of a Rachmaninoff symphony by a tin whistle be tolerated? Of course not. Criticism of jazz based on just as insecure foundations must be just as distorted. Sight was also lost of the fact that the jazz appreciator does not blindly defend all jazz compositions and renditions. There are standards to observe. "A.E.H." might find his aesthetic pulse quickening a little if he chanced to hear brilliant jazzmen such as Dave Brubeck or Gerry Mulligan. Al Zeiger, an alto saxophone player, and none the inferior for that, sums up the jazz v. classical controversy in the American magazine Metronome. He says: "In order to enjoy classical music and jazz, one must first break down any mental barriers about the music itself which stand in the way. A great many people feel it not ‘hip’ to enjoy classical music. They associate this music with ‘stuffed shirts.’ On the other hand, jazz is associated with sex, nightclubs and unrefinement. If these people would only drop these notions and begin to listen ‘to the music just for the sake of hearing music they would be on the road to enriching their experience. ..." Wise words that anti-jazz forces would do well to ponder.

P. G.

A.

(Wellington).