Authorship in Jazz
The story of "Sophisticated Lady" reveals the complexities of authorship in jazz, highlighting how contributions can go unrecognized. Lawrence, a trombonist, felt that without his signature melody, the song wouldn’t exist, yet he received no credit. Meanwhile, Ellington's manager, Irving, secured co-writing credits, illustrating the power dynamics at play in the music industry. Critics argue that the popular "Real Book" oversimplifies jazz standards, which are meant to be interpreted in diverse ways rather than played in a single, definitive manner.In this clip
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99% Invisible
The Real Book [rebroadcast]
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