Yahoo Tuning Groups Ultimate Backup makemicromusic A response to Bob Moses

For all those who read Bob Moses's recent article slamming a lot of
my favorite musicians, here's a response from one of them:

'You['re] "heartfelt amen" to Bob Moses is like a vision
from the worst nightmare I've ever had. I can
understand it though. You live in D.C. and have not
had the opportunity to experience the true pain of
what being around Bob Moses is like. I have seen him
DESTROY countless gigs (playing original music with
local musicians) through almost any means imaginable.
'Although I'm new to the list and I'm sure this is now
an old topic, I feel the need to select a Moses story
to share. Bob tells his version of this story in his
letter; here's what it looked like from the audience.
Jared Sims, who was attacked in Bob's ill-informed
article, performed with Bob Moses on Brenda Hopkin's
show at Ryle's Jazz Club. Moses didn't know any of
the tunes. In fact, he played through almost every
single ending, and then turned it into a five-minute
drum solo where he would sing along with himself. It
was great the first time, but as the night went on,
Bob made it more and more obvious that he had no
interest in doing anything but playing alone, and
furthermore that he didn't care very much about making
the songs work. After about five of Bob's song ending
solos, Jared (sax) and the other horn player decided
to start trying to play along. They didn't play just
random shit either; they played the melody that Bob
was singing! He hated it, grimaced, and in general
made a real idiot out of himself. Bob Moses cleared
out a full room with a bad attitude.
'In direct reference to his article, Bob may make a
few decent points, but he obliterates them with his
personal examples. James Merenda doesn't make money
off of Mingus's name! Has anyone been to see
"Portrait of Mingus" at Lincoln Center lately, no,
maybe at the Choppin' Block!! James Merenda also
plays plenty of original music, and furthermore plays
it with a spirit and passion that I think even Bob
Moses would like if he took the chance to listen! And
there is the catch! Bob Moses does not listen to young
musicians in Boston; he makes assumptions about them
based on the color of their skin.
'Moses personal examples of the saintly musical lives
of the members of Medeski Martin and Wood further
illustrate how dark it was where he was typing. I
believe I know every single musician Bob trashes
personally. Bob couldn't have picked a more dedicated
group of people. The readers of this list must know
Taylor Bynum and the skills and passion with which he
performs. James Merenda is a fire on the sax! I can
speak for the band The Slip (who was added to this
glorious article because of a one night concert in
Boston) and tell you that contrary to what Bob thinks
these guys attend "Eskola de Samba" and explore so
many musical opportunities with nothing but love for
doing it.
'I must add two great ironies to Bob's article.
Miracle Orchestra, who Bob slays in passing, took a
group lesson with Moses about four years ago. I was
the drummer, and I left the lesson first. After I
left the lesson, Bob asked the other members to kick
me out so he could be in the band! What a great
teacher.
'Also, the best concert I've ever seen Bob Moses
perform on was a tribute to the music of Bob Marley.
And unlike James Merenda with the Mingus group, I do
believe that Bob did that gig for the money. If I was
to hold Bob to his own standards the questions I would
have to ask are,
'Bob do you have a deep understanding of Bob Marley?
Have you been deeply involved in the culture of
Rastafari? Did you know Bob Marley personally? Do
white Jewish musicians like yourself really feel that
you have a right to perform this music? Do you plan
to perform Bob Marley's music forever? What will it
be next week, the music of John Lennon, Paul Schaffer?
'If it were only his students and the younger
generation that Bob so despised, I would understand.
The "Archie Bunker" syndrome seems to be a natural
thing. But it's not the case. Bob spent most of my
time during drum lessons talking shit! Bob refers to
Joey Baron as "The Groove Destroyer." Brian Blade
just isn't good enough for him. One day Bob was
actually tearing apart John Abercrombie's guitar
playing and John walked in the room. "John what's up
man, we got to play!" Hmmm
'Bob Moses has boiled the legacy of Mingus down to a
bad attitude. I wonder if Charles REALLY wants Bob to
be down here on earth as his mediator? After all,
wasn't Bob 12 years old when they were friendly? If
Mingus is waiting in heaven to kick James Merenda's
ass, I've got to think that there's a long line of
people upstairs with Bob's number. His whole article
reeks of jealous question "Why wasn't I the one in
that article?" The answer: You've pissed off every
musician you've played with in the last ten years.'

Well, he never pissed me off . . . but I do feel bad for the writer
of this response, who I know to be one of the most humble people on
earth and an astoundingly soulful musician.

🔗Jonathan M. Szanto <JSZANTO@...>

🔗George Zelenz <ploo@...>

Moses has parted my red sea a few times as well, but that he may be socially
challenged comes as no surprise. He definitely has music inside him real deep,
but were he a nicer guy to be around, he may actually be on alot more albums
than he is. When I met him, he seemed like a nut. A good nut, but a nut none
the less. Nutty people can be like Paul's friend describes Moses. I doubt they
mean to be mean or rude, they probably have some deep self-esteem issues to
deal with. Those who may think that his arrogance is evidence of high
self-esteem, should consider the fact that often, arrogance is a sign of inner
criticism, and the boasting is an attempt at spirit elevation. Dejohnette and
other top (busy) drummers have all impressed me as humble and down to earth.
Drummers, perhaps above all other musician groups, tend to be a close knit
group, with little of the petty crap we see between some guitar players for
example. Bob is an anomoly as far as I am concerned.

For Mingus, I think anyone with love and respect for him, is doing a fine job
of protecting his whatever. Same for Ives and other MMM Martyr's.

Too bad about Moses, I really like his music.

Thanks for sharing Paul.

🔗D.Stearns <STEARNS@...>

Yes, life is complicated, and some people even see that as a good
thing, and maybe it is. But it always seems to me that messy public
airing of the private dirty laundry always makes everyone worse off
for it. In his initial editorial, Moses himself opened the door for
these things, and, even if it was with noble intentions and colored by
overly personal connections regarding Mingus, it was his tact that
steered it in this direction more than need be.

These are adult foibles and they're like a great contagion that knocks
everything in its path down a notch or two. Kids are indoctrinated
young and have no concerns for noble pretence... it's a wonderful
life.

While I'm firmly pessimistic, I've known people who bite their tongue,
and some who don't even need to. So who knows, maybe eternity won't
rid itself of humans. I can't see any scenarios where that's anything
but bad management however!

--Dan Stearns

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan M. Szanto" <JSZANTO@...>
To: <MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2002 12:03 PM
Subject: Re: [MMM] A response to Bob Moses

> Paul,
>
> {you wrote...}
> >Well, he never pissed me off . . . but I do feel bad for the writer
> >of this response, who I know to be one of the most humble people on
> >earth and an astoundingly soulful musician.
>
> Life is complicated, huh? I don't know Moses, and I hadn't ever
heard any
> background on him as a person. He's moved me as a musician, but it's
never
> fun to hear the (alleged) seamy side. Maybe life isn't so
complicated, just
> humans...
>
> Cheers,
> Jon
>
>
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A response to Bob Moses

🔗paulerlich <paul@...>

🔗Jonathan M. Szanto <JSZANTO@...>

🔗George Zelenz <ploo@...>

🔗D.Stearns <STEARNS@...>

🔗Rick McGowan <rick@...>

🔗paulerlich <paul@...>

🔗George Zelenz <ploo@...>