Ever one to stand up for what he believes in, yesterday Tommy Smith gave a voice to the musicians and music-lovers angry by the Scotman newspaper's decision to stop reviewing classical, world and jazz music.
As eloquent a writer as he is a player, Tommy wrote the following letter and has set up a petition to reverse the decision.
Dear Robert Burns and his descendants,
On this sacred day, 25th January
2014, the Scotsman newspaper has taken the budgetary decision to end
reviewing world music, classical and jazz recordings, which is a
heart-breaking bowdlerization of minority art forms and another
cessation for the popularization and liberality of creativity. They may
publish occasional reviews in the future but only from their syndication
agreements, as long as they don't have to pay for them. Who knows where
they'll appear, as their current Saturday magazine is also going to the
four winds.
The final jazz CD reviewed for the
Scotsman is printed today and coincidentally is for an ECM album
featuring Arild Andersen, Paolo Vinnacia and myself, entitled MIRA, a
red giant star. It is irrelevant whether the review is rated one star or
a sea monster five, what is relevant is that the recording is reviewed
for the public to read. Gratefully, the Scotsman will continue to review
rock/pop and folk music, but should there be favouritism among musical
genres? Equality will keep your heart pure. Let’s hope, one day, they
will fluctuate their focus and luminescence on jazz, classical and world
music again, just like we do when we look up at the astonishing MIRA
balanced in the cosmos.
One thing I am glad about, is that
you, Rabbie Burns, wrote about things tiny and guid, like the mouse and
the louse.“We’ll tak a cup o kindness yet,” from the currently illiberal
Scotsman.
Please support this petition and make your voice heard.
Tommy Smith
