Posted by Rick Denney on December 13, 2000 at 15:41:59:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Bill Bell and His Tuba posted by Richard on December 12, 2000 at 23:44:50:
Yup. Anybody who would appear on his album cover with a cake on his head is definitely not making an overly serious artistic statement.
We should remember that many artists have attempted to provide recordings more accessible to mass audiences. Pilafian's jazz recordings, the Canadian Brass live and recorded performances, are just a couple of examples. They understand that to create a mass audience, they can't take themselves too seriously. Bell, having started his career in the Sousa Band, would understand as well as anybody.
We tubists look to these great artists to make a statement that defines artistic accomplishment for their generation, but that isn't always what sells recordings in the wider market. I'm struck, in reading, for example, the biography of Arnold Jacobs, how savvy were the commercial instincts and motivations of some of our most revered performers.
Rick "wondering if Pavarotti is sick of being the third tenor" Denney