Dear Editor,In response to the article published by your website yesterday evening entitled “Icons Among Us: Jazz in the Present Tense - World Premiere“ by Eric Benson I wanted to share two thoughts of my own as Executive Producer of the film series.
First, and most important is my intention to welcome a dialogue with any interested party in our work. So, with that in mind I invite Mr. Benson to consider one of the core findings of our seven year journey to complete the episodes. At the center of this discovery lies a simple truth, that if we have learned anything from our study of the words and music of these deeply committed artists, it is that jazz is what you make of it. Its subjective properties are the foundation of its meaning and when the listener's emotional and intellectual responses are externalized, jazz has the potential to create a conversation which is filled with both powerful agreement and disagreement.
Second, is the idea that the standards which the writer appears to be judging us by are perhaps inappropriate after a single viewing the first episode of our four part series.
Lastly, if it is a rallying cry the writer seeks then he may be unable to recognize the integrity of our work as we have gone to great lengths to offer only the musicians' words and music to invest in the infinite possibilities of conversation which are at the heart of jazz in my humble opinion.
Yours truly,
John W. Comerford
Executive Producer, Icons Among Us: jazz in the present tense
For more information contact All About Jazz.
