AJ in the mainstream

William Dwyer (bdwyer@grove.ufl.edu)
Fri, 8 Dec 1995 01:01:10 -0500 (EST)

Those of you who read the mainstream Jazz organ, Jazziz, must have
noticed the surprising amount of coverage of AJ-related artists in the
latest issue. I've just read list mail for the past few days (our system
was sabotaged two days in a row by mad terrorist students, or some such,
during the last week of classes) and was mildly surprised not to find any
comment on this issue. Despite the "fabfourplay" cover (a triple
entendre?), this is an "AJ" issue, whatever that is, albeit a somewhat
mainstream AJ variety (so they can sell recordings and advertizing, of
course). Check it out, though: a "Brazilian" column with the lead, "Some
of Brazilian music's old hands are likely getting a chuckle out of how
bossa nova is being reinvented by the acid jazz movement" (I dislike that
word, "movement"; it sounds OK for what bowels do, but not music, and it
seems to come up too often when the term "acid jazz" is used in these
articles); a profile, yet, of charlie hunter (full-page photo, more than
a page of text); an awful article titled, "acid test flashback" that
talks about a bunch of familiars (DJ Smash, Us3, Guru, Jamiroquai,
Jazzhole, BFE, Omar, and others), but doesn't make any sense; and a new
column called "D.I.G. (directions in groove)" that DOES make sense, and
covers the likes of Guru, Courtney Pine, DJ Krush, 9 lazy 9, Hedfunk,
UFO, and many more. This last was very informative, but I'd like to hear
comments from the more knowledgeable members of the list on its contents.
(Perhaps the author IS a member of the list.)

Part of my surprise in this coverage was that I had asked one of the
Jazziz representatives if they planned to cover the genre in the future.
This was in October at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival and he said he
would pass the word along (the rag's produced right here in cosmopolitan
Gainesville, FL), but I'd be very surprised that my suggestion meant
much, even though I carry more weight than the Speaker of the House (my
wife). BTW, I didn't enjoy the jazz festival this year, after having
joined this list and finding out about all this great shit and spending
megabucks on CDs--and these people don't get invited to such
jazz-for-the-masses-type events. But what a trip it's been.

Bil
bdwyer@grove.ufl.edu