Jazzwise or Jazz Review?

Muthaship · July-16th-2003, 07:06 AM

Are there any readers of the British magazines Jazzwise and Jazz Review out there? Which of the two magazines is your favourite? Opinions amongst people I know seem to be quite strong.

Nate Dorward · July-17th-2003, 01:26 AM

I'm not really familiar with either though I think I've seen the odd copy. What's the differences between the two that lead to strong opinions in favour of one or the other.

Muthaship · July-17th-2003, 04:51 AM

Jazz Review is probably the more serious and in-depth magazine, while Jazzwise is characterised by a more, how shall I put it, 'breathless' enthusiasm, though it carries more news pages.

yardbird · July-22nd-2003, 07:53 AM

I think JR is a little more serious, but some issues have a tendency to be little retro. If I had to pick one, I would stick to JR, however.

Muthaship · August-1st-2003, 05:13 AM

Most people I know in London would choose Jazz Review over Jazzwise. I find you can trust Jazz Review's reviewers to make accurate and measured judgements, whereas Jazzwise like much 'yoof' media relies on a rather glib star rating system (5 stars good, 1 star bad).

What do US members of this board think? Both magazines have limited distribution in the US.

Tanager · August-1st-2003, 08:58 AM

I can never bring myself to buy jazz magazines, b/c I always think..."that's $$$ I could use towards another CD instead."

Bassbreaker · August-1st-2003, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Muthaship
Most people I know in London would choose Jazz Review over Jazzwise. I find you can trust Jazz Review's reviewers to make accurate and measured judgements, whereas Jazzwise like much 'yoof' media relies on a rather glib star rating system (5 stars good, 1 star bad).

What do US members of this board think? Both magazines have limited distribution in the US.

Mmmm, this is all sounding a bit familiar Muthaship - and you sound extremely biased - are Alyn Shipton or Ashley Khan 'yoof' writers in your opinion? As both are regular contributors to JW - but then again if you are a JR fan then I am assuming that anyone under the age of 50 with a view on jazz is irrelevant eh?

Muthaship · August-2nd-2003, 12:29 PM

I'm 31, female, and other than as a reader have no connection with Jazz Review, contrary to what you appear to think.

You on the other hand clearly have some professional connection with JazzWise.

Sorry, but you seem the sad one to me.

Next please!

Bassbreaker · August-4th-2003, 05:04 AM

Whatever dudette - why is the fact you are female relevant?

Nate Dorward · August-4th-2003, 03:12 PM

Hm, I seem to recall browsing one or the other recently (a month or two ago). Which one was it has Stuart Nicholson writing for it? I was appalled by his reviewing, which seemed to consist in either trashing or hyping disks for no obvious reasons in either case: for instance, trashing Steve Lacy's Work & Marty Ehrlich's new big band disc, hyping Bobby Previte's Counterclockwise (which was also the subject of a feature article in the same issue).

Muthaship · August-5th-2003, 06:21 AM

Hi Nate

Stuart Nicholson is one of Jazzwise's 'star' writers!

Hi BassFlunki

Come up and see me sometime and I'll explain.

mike z · August-8th-2003, 05:53 AM

I think you dudes (and dudettes) are expecting too much from jazz magazines. Jazz critics tend to be smug, sanctimonious Walter Mitty characters with an overblown sense of their own importance. There are exceptions, of course, but precious few.

Nate Dorward · August-8th-2003, 08:15 PM

Thanks, I'll put that in my resume.

mike z · August-12th-2003, 04:31 AM

You see, there you go already with the wounded pride. Imagine if you were a musician and some grubby little hack questioned your artistic integrity. Not nice, is it?

Nate Dorward · August-12th-2003, 09:32 AM

I don't object to being critiqued as an individual, nor should musicians objet to being critiqued as individuals. That has nothing to do with stupid write-offs of an entire profession, for which see post #12.

mike z · August-12th-2003, 11:02 AM

That is a fair point, Nate, I grant you.

But I do have an issue with the word 'profession' being used to describe the bunch of dysfunctional winos and sex deviants who leech off the creative/consumer interface of our music. No offence!

mke · August-12th-2003, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mike z
But I do have an issue with the word 'profession' being used to describe the bunch of dysfunctional winos and sex deviants who leech off the creative/consumer interface of our music. No offence!

I didn't realise the life of a critic was so exciting! Where can I sign up?

Muthaship · August-12th-2003, 12:40 PM

Ho ho ho. Aren't we rather losing sight of the original thread here?

JazzCutterBoy · September-6th-2003, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tanager
I can never bring myself to buy jazz magazines, b/c I always think..."that's $$$ I could use towards another CD instead."

same way of thinking for a while......but then what do I read on the toilet????.....hah only joking but seriously, I find myself out of touch with any new artists and I find myself buying records by Coltrane, Davis, and all thoose greats all the time instead of some of the newer talented cats.....I plan on getting a subscription when I get the $$$.....but for right now I'm gunna chill here......so yea, sorry If I seem like I've been living under a rock.

Peace-
Cutter

Nate Dorward · September-7th-2003, 11:43 PM

There's certainly no reason to be ashamed of buying primarily reissues of Coltrane, Davis et al; there's certainly much excellent music being made nowadays but it's too easy to be overanxious about being hip to the latest releases. Follow your muse.

gonzo · September-8th-2003, 03:53 AM

at my magazine store jazzwise is 10.00, so i'm not gonna buy it.