[Tango-L] Why are you dancing tango if you don't like tango?

[AJ Azure]

> From: Huck Kennedy <tempehuck at gmail.com>
> Date: Sat, 08 May 2010 15:54:19 -0700
> To: <tango-l at mit.edu>
> Subject: Re: [Tango-L] Why are you dancing tango if you don't like tango?
> 
> On Fri, May 7, 2010 at 4:20 PM, AJ Azure <azure.music at verizon.net>
> wrote:
>
>>> As I said, there are good an bad bands.
>>
>>      I have yet to
> hear an American tango band attempting to play the
>> tango classics that can
> come anywhere even close to the Golden Age
>> bands.  Not even remotely.
>
>
> So then of course that means you've heard them all

     Nope.  It means just
> what I said:  I've yet to hear one that
comes even remotely close.

>>>

Well we're in agreement there's room for surprise and therefore there's
opportunity for effort. SO in that spirit supportive intent does us all more
good than pessimism wouldn't you agree?

> There's that elitist attitude rearing its' ugly head.
>>
>>      Having taste
> and a musical ear is elitist?  Then I guess some of
>> us are guilty.
>
>
> Taste does not mean fanatical purist elitism

      But it does mean being
> able to tell the difference between an
incredibly talented Golden Age band
> whose members spent their entire
lives playing tango for their living, and
> some group of hobbyists that
started playing tango in their garage a couple
> nights a week a few
years ago while trying to hold down their day jobs.  I
> love that the
latter are doing what they do, I heartily applaud their efforts,
> but I
am not for a minute going to pretend that they are even remotely as
good
> as the former when they're not.  How on Earth could they be, when
the years of
> experience the Golden Age bands had is not there?

>

There is a large amount of range between life long and garage band. I myself
employ some of the best musicians on the US North East and while they are
coming from other styles they have the ability, education and experience to
learn a style of music and they do devote their time to doing so with
respect. We're not talking hobbyists.

 >Oh and in case you're
> under any self delusion a musical ear does not in fact
> make you musician.


> But it does make you qualified to critique music.  Please tell
me you're not
> one of those people who say of the critics, "Why, he or
she never [directed a
> movie, danced Copelia, played Beethoven, what
have you], how did he or she get
> a job writing these outrageous
critique columns for the New York Times
> entertainment section?"



NO but, I do say if said hypothetical critic has absolutely no clue of what
goes in to creating music they are less likely (if not totally unqualified)
to critique it with any sort of informed knowledge. It's also much easier to
sit back and slam people's earnest efforts than it is to attempt to do the
same ones self. Back seat driver syndrome.

 >Oh btw, I *am* a musician, if that makes you
> feel any better.
Who is just as critical, if not more so, of his own
> playing.

>>>

Well great than I would hope as a musician you would opt for optimism and a
collaborative, supportive environment where we can cultivate musicians
towards a better than garage band status if not the life long devotee level.
There' a middle ground where a good and decent danceable group can exist in
an environment of mutual respect and a combined goal towards achieving a
synergistic live musician for dancer relationship.


> Some musicians certainly play for themselves but,
>>
>>    
>  Such as Piazzola, who was once quoted as saying, "F*** the
>> dancers."
>  Exquisite musician, however.
>
> Sheesh you certainly have a chip on your
> shoulder about Piazzolla.

      I do not, sir.  As a matter of fact, I called
> him an exquisite
musician.  You have a curious definition of "chip on one's
> shoulder."
Piazzola simply did not care about pleasing dancers--he only
> cared
about making creative music.  And he was honest about admitting it.

>>>

It seems there's this chip on this list about Piazzolla, etc. So I referred
to your comment and lumped you in with the whole in response to your
comment. My faux pas

> You'll never really find a group you like if you first assume you won't
> like
>>> them.
>>
>>       Now that makes no logical sense at all.  There is
> always room
>> for the element of pleasant surprise.
>
> If you're willing to
> be surprised.

       Sir, I am begging to be surprised.
> :-)



Hey I'll be working towards it. Those who are interested in supporting this
goal are very welcome to offer their input as to what they'd like to have
(within realistic reason) their tango dance group do for them. I just ask
that those who only have negativity or pessimism to offer reserve their
opinions as it's not supportive towards a positive, collaborative
atmosphere. That's not to say I am opposed to constructive criticism.
On the contrary I not only welcome it. I request it. So get ready to be
surprised.

;)