...like some of us who tried to jump into the pool, most failed, (myself), but for those who succeeded, it often placed additional problems...drugs, alcoholism, scams by managers, club dates, etc. Very well...done that...too bad cause' the music strikes the soul.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0zIbYCu7Yc&list=RDp0zIbYCu7Yc&start_radio=1

I am a big fan of Chet Baker. It's a pity his mental instability and addictions did so much damage to himself and to others before his bizarre death in the Netherlands.

......yeah....maybe this picture makes a better point of the sacrifice of these talented people made ....yes, he used drugs,and led a damaging lifestyle, but who are we?............

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKVWp_Ekl44&list=RDDKVWp_Ekl44&start_radio=1

...yeah, and unfortunately, the jazz world is littered with these horror stories involving crime, sex, sleaze, you name it. Having been there in Manhattan, LA, SF,...yeah, it was bad. Trying to gain a foothold in that environment was nuts. I did hash with Coltane and Archie Shepp's bassist, Jimmy Garrison, thinking I could get access.........no. I was not in the club.........

> ......but who are we?............

"We" are music lovers who think Baker's art was a gift to the world and that his illness and death were tragedies.

Like so many other artists.

......but who are we?....."to judge".

That was what I meant............

We can and should judge.

The other Jazz great, Miles Davis, was another profoundly damaged person. He imbibed and shot up far too often, abused and beat his successive wives and girlfriends, and in his final years mistreated his caretakers. He was a lousy man. But his music was, and remains great.

We can judge an artist to be a great creator and simultaneously a horrible person. Whether it's Baker, Davis, irresponsible mothers like Nina Simone or Aretha Franklin, any number of other jazz musicians; the more contemporary Amy Winehouse; Pablo Picasso or Michelangelo Caravaggio or many other visual artists, mental instability and cruelty are common among people who have left the world great beauty.

One of the traits of a mature mind is the ability to see people, artists and others, in the clear light of day. It would be dishonest to say that these people were as fine in character as they were in creativity. And now they are dead and we may still enjoy what they, with all their flaws, bequeathed to us.

That was a hard issue to reconcile for me.
When Michael Jackson's personal life was in the news, I didn't want to buy his music.

It seems that many people have something unsavory in their history (well, except LW of course). I realized I needed to stop expecting everyone to be perfect for me to appreciate the great things they contribute.

Still, the line between supporting ($$$) someone who is a creep and supporting their talent can be tricky. My rule of thumb is that once they are dead, they can't personally benefit from my money. That's my whacky approach and justification for buying their books, music, movies, etc.

> It seems that many people have something unsavory
> in their history (well, except LW of course).

Little do you know that I post from within a maximum security prison!


------------------
> My rule of thumb is that once they are
> dead, they can't personally benefit from my money.
> That's my whacky approach and justification for
> buying their books, music, movies, etc.

That resonates. It is indeed easier once they are dead and hence unlikely to come to your home dragging a severed head by the hair as a gesture of penance.

[Some nerd will get that.]

Hahahaha (laughing like in Revenge of the Nerds).

Maybe with good behavior and a few favors, we can get you transferred to a new minimum security prison. I know some people.

You know those people? I'm appalled!

I always drew comparisons of him and Hank Williams. Both couldn't get past their addictions.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/10/2025 11:27AM by Lethbridge Reprobate.