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Quote by Gary Giddins

“Jazz is for joy. It's for euphoria, it's for emotion, and anguish, and excitement, and all of the joys that great art can produce, and if it loses that, then it's lost everything.”

Author

Gary Giddins

Gary Giddins, born on March 21, 1948, is an accomplished American music critic and writer. His work spans across various genres including jazz, pop, and classical music, known for his profound insights and unique style. more

“I'm a critic. That means you are a writer. So, yes, you have to make yourself an authority on whatever subject it's going to be. Music, movies, literature, whatever it's going to be, but what you really want to do is learn your trade by reading other writers. I think you have to read veraciously, especially people who have done what you have done to see how it's been done in the past; what works, what doesn't work.”

People Thinking Mean Done Past Reading Literature Authority Trade Critics

Author:Gary Giddins

“I never really wanted to be a daily critic who goes out every night and writes 300 word reviews, I wanted to write essays. And that gave me the luxury to be able to go out and if it was lousy, I could just say, well the hell with that, I'll go to hear something else, or, I'll go tomorrow night; I as writing for a weekly.”

Writing Night Hell Tomorrow Critics Essays

Author:Gary Giddins

“If I'm reviewing a record, man, I play that record to death, which is ironic in a way because if I review a concert I feel very confident in myself, certainly at this point, and have for most of my career. You're only hearing it once and then you go to your typewriter and you write the review.”

Men Writing Ironic

Author:Gary Giddins

“When I teach criticism, the first thing I say, and this sometimes pisses off younger - I mean, students, is that, opinions are the least part of criticism. We've all had the experience of going with a friend to a movie or a concert and you leave the theater and one of you loved it and one of you hated it, and that doesn't mean that one of you is an idiot. That's the way things work.”

Mean Sometimes Opinion Teach Students Criticism Idiot Hated

Author:Gary Giddins