Dear Friends:
 
Greetings from Paris!  I’m on my final couple of days here after a mini-tour with my trio (Ugonna Okegwo and Anthony Pinciotti).  We had four successful shows, two at the renown Duc Des Lombards (my thanks to Sebastien Vidal for his hospitality) and two at a very local spot called “Le Caveau Des Legends” where I got to play with my old friend, guitarist Yves Brouqui.  As always, it was a lot of fun and warmly received.  Paris is great, any time of year.
 
I wanted to mention that there’s an article that appears in this week’s New Yorker magazine that is supposed to be a “satire” making fun (of all people) of Sonny Rollins.  Why this happened is baffling.  So that you can read it for yourself, here is the link -->
http://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/sonny-rollins-words

Please keep in mind that even though it’s called “In His Own Words”, it is a complete fiction and one done without Sonny’s consent.  Sonny Rollins is a musical hero and an uncompromising artist.  At this point in his career he needs be celebrated not ridiculed.  Furthermore, this music has already been much maligned and misunderstood.  An article like this is destructive.  For the large majority of people who read the magazine and may not be familiar with Sonny Rollins or jazz music it may be reason to not take him or his work seriously or this music.  This satire is vague enough that unless you really know it could be construed that these really are “his own words.”  I have written the following letter to the editors:
 
Sirs:
 
As a professional jazz musician and owner/manager of Smalls Jazz Club here in Greenwich Village I was appalled by the satire “Sonny Rollins: In His Own Words” by Django Gold (July 31rst issue).  Not only was it not funny but also vague enough to be construed that it was actually “his own words”.  Mr. Rollins is one of the most beloved figures in jazz, renown for his uncompromising artistic integrity.  Why at age 83 after a lifetime dedicated to the music he loves and champions he needs to be the subject of ridicule in your magazine is beyond me.  Instead, the New Yorker should publish a profile celebrating the life and accomplishments of this great American artist.  Jazz is already a much maligned and misunderstood art form.  An article like this does a great disservice to the music and the musicians who spend their lives playing it and is beneath the stature of your magazine.
 
Spike Wilner
Smalls Jazz Club
New York City
 
If you are so inclined, you can reach out to the editors of the New Yorker here -->
http://www.newyorker.com/about/contact/
 
Humor is one thing but let’s set our priorities straight – this music needs to be supported and shared, not ridiculed and maligned.  The great artists of our time need to be celebrated and honored, not ridiculed and further misunderstood.
 
I wish you all peace and thank you for supporting this music and the club.
 
Spike