What's Happening?
Gary Giddins, a prominent jazz critic and music journalist, has spent over 50 years contributing significantly to the dissemination of jazz and its history. His career highlights include a 30-year tenure at the Village Voice, where his 'Weatherbird' column
set a standard for jazz journalism. Giddins co-created the American Jazz Orchestra, taught at CUNY, and directed the Leon Levy Center for Biography. He has authored 13 books, participated in 31 films, and received multiple awards, including the National Book Critics Circle Award. Giddins recently discussed key moments in his career, his musical and literary inspirations, and the complexities of criticism. He recounted his early exposure to R&B through his housekeeper, Pearl Hill, and his eventual immersion in jazz after a transformative experience at Preservation Hall in New Orleans and listening to Louis Armstrong. Giddins also shared anecdotes about his interactions with musicians and his evolving views on criticism.
Why It's Important?
Gary Giddins' extensive career underscores the vital role of informed and passionate criticism in shaping public understanding and appreciation of art forms, particularly jazz. His work has not only documented the history of jazz but also actively contributed to its cultural presence and academic study. By establishing a high standard for jazz journalism, Giddins has influenced generations of writers and listeners, ensuring that the nuances and complexities of the music are explored and celebrated. His reflections on the challenges and rewards of criticism, including the necessity of intellectual arrogance balanced with humility, offer valuable insights into the craft. The anecdotes about his relationships with musicians, both positive and contentious, highlight the unique dynamic between critics and artists in the jazz world, where personal connections often intertwine with professional evaluations. His ongoing work, such as a book on George Gershwin, continues to enrich the discourse around American music.
What's Next?
Gary Giddins is currently working on a third volume of his biography on Bing Crosby and a book about George Gershwin, indicating his continued engagement with music history and criticism. His ongoing efforts will further contribute to the scholarly and popular understanding of these significant figures in American music. Giddins also possesses a vast archive of materials, including cassette interviews, research, manuscripts, letters, sheet music, press releases, notebooks, and thousands of recordings. He is actively seeking a suitable home for this invaluable collection, which, if successfully housed, would provide future researchers and enthusiasts with a rich resource for studying jazz and film history. The preservation and accessibility of his archive will ensure that his contributions and the materials he collected continue to inform and inspire.
Beyond the Headlines
Giddins' career illuminates the evolving landscape of music criticism and its intersection with cultural identity. His experiences with both positive and negative feedback, including the infamous 'steel wool and q-tips' incident regarding Miles Davis, reveal the passionate and sometimes volatile nature of artistic reception. His willingness to change his mind about artists, such as Miles Davis and Keith Jarrett, demonstrates a critical integrity that prioritizes genuine engagement over rigid adherence to initial judgments. The discussions about race in jazz criticism, and Giddins' call for a 'color-blind' approach that focuses on artistic merit, touch upon deep-seated debates within American cultural discourse. His perspective that jazz is fundamentally about 'joy, euphoria, emotion, anguish, and excitement' transcends mere technical analysis, emphasizing the profound human experience embedded in the music. This holistic view of jazz as a reflection of the human condition, rather than just a musical genre, offers a powerful lens through which to understand American cultural history.
