ADORNO & JAZZ: REFERENCES (2)

[Ralph Dumain <rdumain@xxxxxxx>]

There is a journal called FOUND OBJECT (I think out of CUNY) that is not
easy to find.  As it happens, though, FOUND OBJECT #7 has a "section"
devoted to Adorno. However, the proportion of the journal devoted to
Adorno--30 pages at most--probably doesn't warrant a $7 purchase.  Most
useful is an evolving chronological checklist of Adorno translations into
English.  Otherwise, there are only two articles on Adorno, which I read in
the store.  Both are about music.  The second one is about Alban Berg.  The
first concerns Adorno's notorious views on jazz.  This article, written by
a European (German?) intellectual, is a marvelous indictment of Adorno and
his fellow European intellectuals for their bigoted and dismissive attitude
to jazz.  Adorno is placed in a context of fellow European intellectuals, a
number of which shared his views.  Adorno's ridiculous prejudices against
rhythm and syncopation are held up to scrutiny.  This article can certainly
arouse one's resentment of European intellectuals, as it does for me.  The
author does make the point that Adorno never attacks the masses for their
popular tastes; rather he attacks his fellow intellectuals for succumbing
to them.