JAM Magazine: June/July 1999 Issue: Credibility Check

Credibility Check

As regular readers of JAM will attest, during the five year tenure of its current editor, not a single issue has been without typos and other regrettable flaws, most of which could be traced directly back to the editor's desk. We all make mistakes, and this writer/editor has made a bunch.

But hard facts -- especially the kind that can either support or deflate a strident point of view -- are another matter altogether.

In its April 8-14 issue, Pitch Weekly panned the new Charlie Parker monument at 18th & Vine with an editorial that stated Tom Pendergast was a "former mayor" of Kansas City (former cement mixing political boss, yes; former mayor, no), that Parker was born on August 22, 1920 (it was August 29; sci-fi writer Ray Bradbury was born on August 22, 1920... the two are easily confused), and that he died on March 12, 1955 at the age of 35. He was 34, not quite making it to August 29. Or August 22. Or which ever date makes the most sense after being verified.

It's not that anyone expects Pitch to have much credibility when it comes to jazz, but when these kinds of goofs appear in a piece of jazz-related criticism, they only weaken such a venture into the world of an unfamiliar art form.

And to think, the correct info was just a few mouse clicks away from a conscientious music editor.

And as long as we're saluting Pitch Weekly...

In its "Best of Kansas City" Reader's Poll earlier this year, Pitch named The Star's Classical Music Editor Scott Cantrell as KC's "Best Music Critic" saying that "Cantrell manages to criticize without complaint..." If you are one of many who have followed, with frequent disdain, Cantrell's negative reviews over the last nine years, you might find that observation analogous to saying "the sky manages to rain without getting anything wet." But then maybe you're a Pitch staffer new to the scene who somehow managed to miss all ten bazillion of Cantrell's cantankerous pans since 1990. No matter. We probably shouldn't be chastising the messenger here; after all, Pitch was named in its own Reader's Poll as Kansas City's "Best Newspaper," a vote of confidence that would seem to legitimize just about any news from Bizarro World it sees fit to print.

And as long as we're saluting Scott Cantrell...

Rumor has always been that, in addition to being a critic, Cantrell was/is also a concert organist, even though his public performances have been about as scarce as blue notes in a bagpipes solo. Then came notice that he would be performing at Bachathon XX on May 2, an opportunity at least one unabashed Scott-knocker found hard to pass up. To be honest, Cantrell played well, showing a prowess as a performer that would surpass most players-turned-critic. But the performance also brought to mind the age-old question about whether or not a critic who appears on stage should be held to the same high standards he or she applies to review subjects, especially when the critic has a history of being picky and hard to please. Yet another moot point for sure, but food for thought nonetheless.

-- Mike Metheny

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© Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.






	Search our site:		Credibility Check As regular readers of JAM will attest, during the five year tenure of its current editor, not a single issue has been without typos and other regrettable flaws, most of which could be traced directly back to the editor's desk. We all make mistakes, and this writer/editor has made a bunch. But hard facts -- especially the kind that can either support or deflate a strident point of view -- are another matter altogether. In its April 8-14 issue, Pitch Weekly panned the new Charlie Parker monument at 18th & Vine with an editorial that stated Tom Pendergast was a "former mayor" of Kansas City (former cement mixing political boss, yes; former mayor, no), that Parker was born on August 22, 1920 (it was August 29; sci-fi writer Ray Bradbury was born on August 22, 1920... the two are easily confused), and that he died on March 12, 1955 at the age of 35. He was 34, not quite making it to August 29. Or August 22. Or which ever date makes the most sense after being verified. It's not that anyone expects Pitch to have much credibility when it comes to jazz, but when these kinds of goofs appear in a piece of jazz-related criticism, they only weaken such a venture into the world of an unfamiliar art form. And to think, the correct info was just a few mouse clicks away from a conscientious music editor. And as long as we're saluting Pitch Weekly... In its "Best of Kansas City" Reader's Poll earlier this year, Pitch named The Star's Classical Music Editor Scott Cantrell as KC's "Best Music Critic" saying that "Cantrell manages to criticize without complaint..." If you are one of many who have followed, with frequent disdain, Cantrell's negative reviews over the last nine years, you might find that observation analogous to saying "the sky manages to rain without getting anything wet." But then maybe you're a Pitch staffer new to the scene who somehow managed to miss all ten bazillion of Cantrell's cantankerous pans since 1990. No matter. We probably shouldn't be chastising the messenger here; after all, Pitch was named in its own Reader's Poll as Kansas City's "Best Newspaper," a vote of confidence that would seem to legitimize just about any news from Bizarro World it sees fit to print. And as long as we're saluting Scott Cantrell... Rumor has always been that, in addition to being a critic, Cantrell was/is also a concert organist, even though his public performances have been about as scarce as blue notes in a bagpipes solo. Then came notice that he would be performing at Bachathon XX on May 2, an opportunity at least one unabashed Scott-knocker found hard to pass up. To be honest, Cantrell played well, showing a prowess as a performer that would surpass most players-turned-critic. But the performance also brought to mind the age-old question about whether or not a critic who appears on stage should be held to the same high standards he or she applies to review subjects, especially when the critic has a history of being picky and hard to please. Yet another moot point for sure, but food for thought nonetheless. -- Mike Metheny RETURN TO JUNE 1999 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.