Miles Davis – blind listening test • Hacker News Board

Re: Miles Davis – blind listening test

#61

Post by leothekim » Wed, Jul 18, 2012, 2:57 PM UTC

zoul wrote: post #45

jerf wrote: post #10

Out of curiousity, what is leading people to upvote this? It's a guy I've heard of but don't particularly listen to slagging on a whole bunch of other guys I haven't, and praising a few others I haven't. This is an honest question, not a "this doesn't belong on HN" because I assume there is something here I'm missing? I mean, yes, he's a master of the field and this is certainly an interesting link for somewhere, but…

One interesting thing about Miles Davis is that he never stopped inovating. Several times in his career he could have comfortably sticked to what he was doing and just enjoy the fame and money, but he pushed on. This kind of self-sincerity is quite inspiring regardless of the profession.

I agree. He was tirelessly innovating, and he was rigorous about it by always choosing the best players and letting them influence him as well. He also wasn't afraid of calling out other musicians on their crap, or praising others for playing brilliantly ("motherfuckers" he called them in his autobiography).

I believe his contribution to music was more profound because he kept evolving and maintained his no-bullshit attitude. I admire that as both a musician and a software engineer. I'm grateful for this link showing up on HN too!

Re: Miles Davis – blind listening test

#62

Post by batista » Wed, Jul 18, 2012, 3:50 PM UTC

joydeepdg wrote: post #35

SwellJoe wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We've discussed Miles Davis on a number of occasions here at HN. It's exactly up our alley...or, at least, the upvotes seem to indicate it is, and I agree that it is. Here's why I think he's interesting: 1. He was an astonishingly good businessman in a time when black men were rarely given opportunities in business, even in the music industry. He is nearly unique even in the jazz world (which was better for black fol…

I agree with the points you make, but I really don't see anything but (unscientific) opinions in the linked article. This article says nothing about why Miles was a good businessman or expound on his leadership skills. All it gives us is insight into his taste in composition styles. That, coupled with the fact that music is a highly unscientific endeavor and the reasons he gives for disliking some of the works might…

>All it gives us is insight into his taste in composition styles. That, coupled with the fact that music is a highly unscientific endeavor and the reasons he gives for disliking some of the works might be the exact reasons why others might love those very works, makes this article completely useless IMHO.

You seem to conflate "unscientific" with "anything goes".

Re: Miles Davis – blind listening test

#63

Post by pnathan » Wed, Jul 18, 2012, 4:01 PM UTC

jamestc wrote: post #41

It's interesting that this sort of thing is seen as a guy slagging records rather than a man just giving his (educated and experienced) opinion, like many others who are dedicated to their craft tend to do. We can't be that bogged down with fake sincerity/showmanship that this is seen as novel or particularly harsh, can we? I don't know. There's nothing pompous about this. He sounds like me when I listen to a thing o…

Yes, that's interesting....

Just because something is creative, or created, doesn't mean it is worthy of uncritical adulation. You actually have to critique to improve; assuming perfection limits your capacity to learn from the flaws. Considering a work and grasping what it seeks to be, then understanding where its missed the mark - that can produce learning and drives the question, "How can I improve? How can I incorporate this knowledge of the gap into my own work".

Re: Miles Davis – blind listening test

#64

Post by Shoomz » Wed, Jul 18, 2012, 4:43 PM UTC

Timothee wrote: post #26

jbigelow76 wrote: post #15

Pretty neat to read Davis' thoughts on other players but this would have been so much better if the recordings could have been embedded so we can hear what he heard.

If that helps, I made a Spotify playlist for some of songs of the 4 different sessions (17 out of 34) that were linked by jeroen: http://open.spotify.com/user/timotheeb/playlist/05rxkOr1UWrP...

Thanks for compiling this. It helps get a bit more depth out of the article and at least strive to hear what Miles was talking about (although some of it honestly still alludes me).

Re: Miles Davis – blind listening test

#65

Post by pessimizer » Wed, Jul 18, 2012, 5:48 PM UTC

pdeuchler wrote: post #21

jerf wrote: post #10

Out of curiousity, what is leading people to upvote this? It's a guy I've heard of but don't particularly listen to slagging on a whole bunch of other guys I haven't, and praising a few others I haven't. This is an honest question, not a "this doesn't belong on HN" because I assume there is something here I'm missing? I mean, yes, he's a master of the field and this is certainly an interesting link for somewhere, but…

You said it yourself, he's a master of the field. I think it's in everyone's interest, and especially HN's[1] to learn as much as possible about, and from, all masters in their fields. Anything that can broaden your horizon can give you a better perspective on not just culture in general[2] but your life as an individual. Thanks to this article I found a fantastic song in "Desafinado". Maybe one day I'll happen to be…

Try Desafinado without Getz - Joao Gilberto is another master.

Re: Miles Davis – blind listening test

#66

Post by mattacular » Wed, Jul 18, 2012, 9:47 PM UTC

Hrundi wrote: post #57

mattacular wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ok all that is great I am still not seeing the connection to HN.

"anything that gratifies one's intellectual curiosity" Found in http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html I'd say this definitely gratifies my intellectual curiosity, though I can understand if you don't feel the same.

An article that has nothing to do with technology, programming, computers, computer science, and barely anything to do with business. Actually sounds like it falls into the off-topic category:

"Off-Topic: Most stories about politics, or crime, or sports, unless they're evidence of some interesting new phenomenon. Videos of pratfalls or disasters, or cute animal pictures. If they'd cover it on TV news, it's probably off-topic."

It is an interesting article and I love Miles Davis but it doesn't belong on HN. Stop trying to fool yourself. Almost anything could be considered to satisfy one's intellectual curiosity. That is a silly cop-out.