It seems to me that people are accepting and forgiving [not that forgiveness is needed... but fans sometimes seem to think it's their terrain to do so
] of their favourite performers from days gone by or as they age... and to highlight all they've brought to them through those years and focus on that with respect...
when the performer makes their best, good faith effort to be there for the fans and give them their level best.
I look back and laugh affectionately at when we had a to-do here years back about whether Leonard had it in him... and, hence, should even try... to ever perform Live, again. The essence of my position was that I would still and absolutely give him my utmost respect, deep appreciation, and immeasurable gratitude, even if he had to hobble with a cane or be brought onstage with assistance and seated in an armchair, just to talk, even if only in a whisper. [Looking at the contrast with all that he's doing now, I can't
help but laugh.] Inherent in that image, however, was that Leonard would be giving it his best and treating his audience with the utmost respect... as he's always done.
From the descriptions I'm reading and even with my seeing Dylan the last time I did, in New Orleans, it's just not been that way with Bob in these, more recent years. To feel invisible to the performer you've paid to see... or to be introduced to the accompanying musicians and see some appreciation expressed for them, or be granted the isolated opportunities to do it yourself, is simply not fair. [There was one time where I felt this was okay, and that was with Thelonious Monk, who remained oblivious to the already-only-sparsely-filled auditorium emptying even further, as his music was apparently unrelateable to many in attendance... by a long stretch, he's never been one to play for the 'masses'
. It was a free, afternoon concert at the Ann Arbor Jazz Festival many years ago.] To not be able to even understand the songs the performers have made famous, however, is absurd. I was glad to see Bob at the Jazzfest in New Orleans because of my appreciation for him over the years and because he is and remains a legend. If I had to judge the performance itself, on the performance itself, well... there is nothing at all memorable about it to me now. I just know I saw him and he was wearing white. Without assistance, I had no idea what he was singing.
It's a quandary to me why he would want to spend his waning years in the industry in this way. There are some people who are simply 'studio performers' and there's nothing wrong with that. It seems Bob has become one, but refuses to take that route. What I heard [but have not been able to buy] of his more recent album, released a couple years ago, sounded excellent. Going on tour and dealing with audiences in this way, though, seems to at least border on exploiting his audiences... and that's never good. It seems that without Bob's good faith effort and respect for the people who are there, Live as well, right in front of him, he may continue to get poor reviews; whereas, if he handled it otherwise, at least the potential would be there for supportive, understanding, and compassionate ones. For me, even with all that's been said in all directions, I still have to weigh in on its simply being sad... and I would wish for better for Bob. All one needs to do is look and read about the stellar and lasting legacy Leonard has created and is leaving for himself
. It can only garner, as he is doing, deep respect.
~ Lizzy
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken."
~ Oscar Wilde
