{"id":213,"date":"2009-06-26T10:35:55","date_gmt":"2009-06-26T14:35:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/jazzbeyondjazz\/wp\/2009\/06\/furor_over_jazz_sexism_continu\/"},"modified":"2011-04-28T16:34:03","modified_gmt":"2011-04-28T20:34:03","slug":"furor_over_jazz_sexism_continu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/jazzbeyondjazz\/2009\/06\/furor_over_jazz_sexism_continu.html","title":{"rendered":"Furor over jazz sexism (continues)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kitty Margolis,\u00c2\u00a0Bay Area jazz singer<\/a>, Facebook and in-person friend, fired up followers re guest blogger Paul Lindemeyer’s comments on jazz’s historic bias towards men, which I contextualized<\/a> with reference to Michelle Obama’s White House jazz night. Here’s what Kitty’s people wrote (names obscured except for her own and Alfonso’s — they ask to be id’d) –\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Kitty 8:42 pm Tuesday:\u00c2\u00a0<\/div>\n

Massive kudos to Michelle Obama for her inspiring and
\npersonal introduction of Jazz music at the White House. As for this Paul
\nLindemeyer nimrod, I’d like to individually and assertively wipe the floor with
\nhis sorry, sexist ass on the bandstand of his choosing.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/div>\n

[HM: Nimrod, in its derogatory sense<\/a>, is traced to Bugs Bunny’s charicaterization of Elmer Fudd)<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n

A_M_ (woman’s name) at 9:25pm June 23<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Yeah, sucks to be a woman. I so envy men, not only for their
\nphalli but for their “expressiveness,” “individuality” and
\n“that combination of proficiency and assertiveness we call
\n‘prowess.'” Thank you, whatsyername, for defining what I lack so clearly.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n
\n

S_S_(man’s name) at 9:57pm June 23<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

That Paul guy’s essay on jazz encapsulates every reason I
\ndrifted into playing everything but jazz. The (largely male) company was
\ndreadful! I met more Bill O’Reilly fans playing jazz than I did playing
\ncountry! The individualist ethos is not the perfect expression of jazz; it’s
\njust the dominant one.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n
\n

Kitty Margolis at 10:02pm June 23<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Surely this profound thinker had in mind lily-livered
\nshrinking violets such as Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Mary Lou WIlliams, Bessie
\nSmith, Melba Liston, Anita O’Day, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Teri Lynne Carrington,
\nCarla Bley, Marian McPartland, Cindy Blackman, Regina Carter, Allison Miller
\nand Ella Fitgerald. Clearly they could never hold their own with someone with a
\nY chromosome like…what was his name again?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n
\n

<\/p>\n

Alfonso Montuori at 1:32am June 24<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

If this is his definition of jazz, and if he plays his horn
\nthe way he writes, it’s not surprising it’s uncool. It’s over for jazz as a
\nboy’s club of grumpy old men. What jazz needs is more women, not less. More
\ndiversity, not less. Cutting contests? Sure. But with a tight, supportive
\nrhythm section, not a bunch of flailing fools. The individuality… Read More
\nis always tempered by community–it’s unity in diversity, women AND men, black
\nAND white (and brown and beige and…) not either\/or. In the meantime, it must
\nbe Lonely at the Top for the (multi-) talented Mr. Lindermeyer…<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n
\n

Alfonso Montuori at 1:35am June 24<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Go Kat Go!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And bravo, Howard Mandel:<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u00c2\u00a0“Isn’t Mrs. Obama sending a straight-out message that
\njazz is back — enjoyable, relevant, hip, not Black and White but American
\nmulti-culti? Is the “helping, communitarian ethic” that might be as
\ncharacteristic of jazz as it is of Barack Obama’s overall governing approach
\nread as essentially feminine or has jazz turned it macho? Could powerful women
\nsuch as Michelle and cool cats like Barack lead the populace back to
\njazz?”…\u00c2\u00a0<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u00c2\u00a0Hell yeah!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n
\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Kitty Margolis at 2:21am June 24<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

I leave home for a few hours and you guys are having a jam
\nsession on my page. Love it. Bottom line: this exclusionary paradigm is dying
\nand the people that were at the top of the food chain have the farthest to
\nfall. Be afraid, Lindermeyer, be very afraid. The ladies are lining up to take
\na few choruses in your cuttin’ contest and our chops are ferocious.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n
\n

K_ G_ (woman’s name) at 4:25pm June 24<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Kudo’s to Michelle and to Kitty. This guy’s head is so far
\nup is own *** that he will never get what jazz really is all about. This is the
\nexact mindset that keeps me at the microphone preaching the word.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n
\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/o:p><\/p>\n

L_ B_ (could be man OR woman’s name) at 1:38am June 24<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Dizzy Gillespie reminded us all often that there’s room
\nunder the tent for EVERYONE.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I do have very little patience for people who think THEY
\nhave “the word” be it about music, religion or politics.\u00c2\u00a0That includes musicians who play music that is “too
\ncool for school” who grumpily complain that people who play sets that
\npeople enjoy get “all the gigs”.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

HM: Yeah, it’s a big tent, there’s music for everyone, music by everyone, now let’s chill out. Here’s the new (?) rule: Further discussion by argument, not villification ONLY. (Or is that not what Facebook is about?)<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

howardmandel.com<\/a>
\nSubscribe by Email <\/a> |
\nSubscribe by RSS<\/a> |
\nFollow on Twitter <\/a>
\n All JBJ posts <\/a> |
\n