Stuff from _Straight No Chaser_

Mark Turner (mturner@netcom.com)
Wed, 6 Nov 1996 20:59:25 -0800 (PST)


Just picked up the latest issue (#38) of _Straight No Chaser_
the other day. Along with the usual bucketload of great
reviews, interviews, and other news, there was a wonderful
article written by Monday Michiru, our favorite Japanese
jazz diva. In this very thoughtful article she talks
about her upbringing, her career, and most interestingly
her thoughts about art vs. entertainment, high culture vs.
low culture, and pop music vs. underground music. I found
it to be excellent food for thought, as well as a very
personal insight into her creative thought process. Highly
recommended.

In the same issue, there's a review of Alex Reece's debut
album, and the words are not kind: "...the first drum 'n'
bass coffee table album." OK, it's not as frenetic or
complicated as some of the more "underground" stuff, but
I think it's quite enjoyable, and less irritating to me
than, say, the wooshy gooshy LTJ Bukem style, with dolphin
noises on every track. Any other opinions?

-- 
 Mark Turner
 mturner@netcom.com