I happened to stumble onto your website recently, and noticed that in your rant section was the rather infamous Bob Moses rant, along with your endorsement of it. I'm certain you don't remember me, but I took a lesson from you in 1992, when I was just beginning to work full time as a musician. I'm a pianist. We spent a great deal of time talking about things other than music, more about artistic choices and development, and you were a great help to me. In my darkest moments, I've often thought of things you told me in that lesson, and never looked back. I haven't held a job other than as a pianist for most of my adult life. I've worked my way through the ranks here in Boston, and played with many of the best jazz musicians here.

I've scuffled, played weddings, bar mitzvahs, accompanied Baptist gospel ministries, composed, arranged, recorded, toured, and gotten every bit of practical experience that Boston has to offer a musician. I am also a member of James Merenda's band. Each week, we get together to play the music of Charles Mingus. At the time of the writing of Bob Moses' article, we labored in near obscurity, about as obscure as one can be playing in a bar in Mission Hill. If Bob‘s statements were based on firsthand knowledge of our group and our personal intentions, I wouldn't feel the need to write this rebuttal to you - everyone is entitled to their own opinion. And this is the main sticking point- to my knowledge, Bob Moses has never heard our group, doesn't know anything of our intentions, and doesn't even know many of us personally.

He also may have had credibility if there were any truth to the epithet that we are "tombstone fuckers" cashing in on Mingus. I realize this is Bob Belden's comment, whom I also admire, and also knows nothing about any of us. When I think of my 17 year old car that I've coaxed 300,000 miles out of, parked outside, I had to laugh at that one. I assure you that there is very little cash involved here. No record contract, no fortune, no beer company endorsed tours, nothing. We play in a bar, and occasionally in one of the few so-called jazz venues left to local musicians in Boston. I imagine you probably haven't spent much time in Boston since sometime around the early 1960s, but there's not a huge market for the music of Charles Mingus here, or even for jazz in general. We humbly transcribe and play Charles Mingus' music simply because we have the deepest respect and admiration for him and want to learn. That is all. And we do our best not to simply recreate, but try to make a personal, original statement when we play Charles Mingus‚ compositions.

None of us intend to make a career out of playing Charles Mingus‚ music, or that of any other "Great Dead Guy". Personally, I would love the opportunity to be screamed at by Charles Mingus, but sadly, that's just not possible. I do what I can to learn, and this is what I do.

Bob also suggests, among other things, that we learn from the masters personally. How is he to know we haven't? Among the many players that pass through this band, there are those of us who have worked (Not "studied in a college setting with," but "worked") with Horace Silver, Ran Blake, Herbie Hancock, Ornette Coleman, Lionel Hampton, Roswell Rudd, Steve Lacy, just to name a few off the top of my head. Do these count as masters? "Join a reggae band with Jamaicans." Okay, fine. Our former trumpet player has toured and recorded with the Jamaican originators of ska, the Skatalites.

Does Bob know anything about this? Of course not. "Would as many people come to the club if the posters read "Merenda Plays the Music Of Merenda" Yes, they would and do. James writes his own music and leads his own groups that play only his music. As do all of us. Etc., etc.

You know, I don't really have a great deal of interest in lashing out every time I see something on the internet that disturbs me. This article has been out for two years, and is pretty stale news. But, this "fine piece of editorial journalism" is sheer misinformation based on ignorance involving a friend and colleague of mine, and indirectly involving me. I was disappointed to see it here, on the website of someone whose advice and music made such a strong impact on my choices in life. James Merenda is a musician of great originality, integrity, and has a deep commitment to jazz and making music, as all of us in his band do. Bob Moses knows nothing of this about us, and with all due respect, neither do you.

Art Bailey

Somerville, Ma.