Richie Beirach on the challenge of artistic integrity
So much activity on that video of Richie and Chet, I came up with another one by Richie.
Here is the recording of my conversation with Richie as we were crafting our book, Great Art and Commercial Success. I've placed a link to read more about it at the bottom.
Richie found a quote from Count Basie that formed the seed of a wider issue - that of artistic integrity. Richie doesn't think Basie's quote tells the whole story so he eloquently speaks to the difficulties of maintaining artistic integrity and resisting the temptation to compromise the best you have in you merely for money or other goodies.
To Richie, playing jazz is a sacred rite. In his view, the artist has a responsibility play their art at the highest level possible.
Richie has modified his extreme views on something related when we first met. He used to argue that part-time hobby musicians shouldn't perform because they weren't up to the level of pros. I told him why that was silly and a few months later he wholeheartedly agreed.
I mention this only to shine a light on how fervent his love is for the craft of writing and playing music.
After Richie talks about this topic along with some stories of opportunities he turned down through the years, I ask my AI, Jazz Master Chat, for thoughts that other jazz masters shared with me on how to maintain one's artistic vision. It came up with thoughts from Dave Liebman and Sheila Jordan. I then close with my favorite short clip of Sheila.
The book Great Art & Commercial Success: https://musicsavvy.com/great-art-comm...