This past month, I made noises in a fundraising letter that I was planning to shut up for a month or two. “I am likely at this point to cede my monthly column because I cannot focus on music. That should come as a relief to those of you who disagree with my perspective. And I don’t expect you to give money to someone whose opinions are in stark philosophical contrast to your own. Fair enough.” My statement was occasioned by a message from another dissatisfied customer:
Dear Mr. Senior,
As you know, jazz, and in particular early or Trad Jazz, is often a music of joy and exuberance. It’s an uplifting experience to hear it, let alone to play it or dance to it. Even to read about it! Which is all the more reason I write to you to express my extreme disappointment in reading about your expressions of extreme disapproval of a significant number of Americans whose political opinions evidently are not the same as yours.
How disappointing!
I subscribed a year ago and just recently re-upped. I did so to support your publication that in turn supports this art form.
I did not sign up for political opinions, yours or anyone else’s—no matter what those opinions might be. Your follow up column indicated you expected a lot of pushback, presumably on account of the particular opinions to which you gave vent. My disappointment in your actions is absolutely apolitical. Your remarks are
