Some disturbing news: A very complimentary review of my new CD [The Way to Peace] has been pulled because of politics. The reviewer's name is Brent Black, his website is criticaljazz.com....
Here's what he posted on Facebook about his decision to pull the review (in lower case as he wrote it):
"my humble apologies to my jewish friends for reviewing rich sigel (sic) an anti-zionist peace activist that supports the destruction of israel. had i know (sic) who he was and what he was all about i never would have given him 30 seconds of my time. his review is pulled and e mail blocked. again my apologies i stand with israel NEVER against her but firmly against her enemies."
The claim that I support the destruction of Israel is pure libel. I have never made any statements advocating the destruction of Israel, or the destruction of anyone or anything. The irony here is that in his review Black makes it a point to separate his disagreement with my politics from his assessment of the music I have brought to the world with this new recording. (Read review below.) He has obviously flushed that integrity down the toilet with his libelous announcement and decision to pull the review.
The original review:
Rich Siegel "The Way to Peace"
By Brent Black, Critical Jazz (March 23, 2012)
Perhaps the greatest joy in writing about music and predominately jazz in particular would have to be taking the occasional sonic path less traveled. Had someone told me two years ago I would have been reviewing the work of an anti-Zionist peace activist, a request that this individual be drug tested would be the expected response from those few that travel in my inner circle.
The Way To Peace is not a political manifesto in the strictest sense of the
word but instead I will allow Siegel's words to speak for him:
³I sought a marriage of spirituality and peace activism, combining my
originals with some extraordinary cover material, notably by New York
composer Kirk Nurock and Lebanese composer Ahmad Kaabour, as well as others.²
From a purely musical perspective, Siegel is a gifted instrumentalist with
rich vocals that glide effortlessly along with his playing.
http://www.criticaljazz.com/ is actually an outgrowth from some inspiration found in of all places - facebook. Having rather outspoken and often (not always) conservative views on the subject of the Palestinian state, I am long on record as encouraging artists to stay away from such incendiary topics as faith, politics and sexual orientation when it comes to social media. The reasoning for an artist to stay away from such potentially damaging topics is not to squash an opposing point of view or monopolize a public forum but from a practical standpoint of alienating a large segment of one's audience.
The one piece of advice given to me by a former editor of separating the
individual from the artist probably best rings true from this perspective.
Rich Siegel is and what he sings about. For this reason alone, The Way To Peace is a stellar recording.
If an artist is to give of them self in a form of expression be it music,
painting or sculpture then all you can ask for is an honest shared
perspective. You can respect an opinion and disagree with it. To
oversimplify Siegel's music as that of the "peace movement" would be
disingenuous at best. Instead Siegel presents us with an eloquently stated, musically pristine offering of himself and shares a piece of what is in his heart.
Isn't that what art is all about?
Pathetic.
Sue the a-hole for libel.
Good luck with the album, Rich!
Rich, I read your defense of Atzmon a couple of weeks back (Permission to examine “Jewishness”) and I agree with what you had said, esp relating to Abunimah. Is is possible that libel from Brent black may be b/c of Atzmon?
And with a song like ‘In Palestine’ how did Brent Black not realize what your album was about? I suppose someone is leaning on him hard.
This example is one reason why I support boycotts of everything Israeli and boycotts of Israel’s supporters in social arenas outside of politics I wouldn’t normally favor boycotting. As long they do things like this then boycotting them in every area, musical, educational, literary is fair.
I fear that you are right. It’s more than justified tthis moment.
I have personally given up challa bread, bagels, the use of yiddish-derived words like “goniff” and “chutpzah,” and erotic fanatsies of Israeli model Bar-Rafaeli [that was indeed a real sacrifice].
This is not going to liberate one grain of Palestinain soil, but at least it’s a show of solidarity. For what it’s worth. Little, I fear.
The pettiness and small-minded of these people is astounding. Completely unable to think the situation through, instead coming out with wildly exaggerated hysteria, smearing and unwillingness to engage in thought or debate. Are they trying to portray Jewishness as being synonymous with closed mind bigotry? Because if not they are doing a very good job of it.
The triumph of primitive and xenophobic ethnic nationalism over universal excellence.
I am not sure if this is libel. If you believe that Israel is about Jewish supremacy then ending the supremacy ends Israel, hence destroys it. Like Soviet Union was destroyed. So brent black (or Brent Black) is entitled to his opinion, and he is a master of his IP domain.
Nevertheless, it is good to be alerted what is necessary to “stand with Israel”. As we know, Israel is the only safe place for the Jews and as such she is beset by assorted dangers, like “terrorist diplomacy”, “lawfare” and quite recently, a wave of anti Zionist Jazz musicians. The latter seems to be a minor threat, but like the threat from anti-Zionist anarchist bicyclists, it cannot be simply ignored.
PS. I am basically ignorant as far as music is concerned, but I am a bicyclist myself so the news about jailing for anarchist anti-Zionist bicycling in Tel Aviv were quite memorable to me.
PS. PS. It seems that “Jewish friends” of Brent Black are difficult characters. On his behalf, I hope that they will find the apology humble enough. “Apologize! Apologize! Or eagle will come and pull out your eyes!”. “No, no, that will not do. Bend your knees, put hands on the stomach, look at your feet. Now repeat your apology. ” Chu: the review had critical paragraph about “unnecessary activist aspects” of the album. Foolishly, Black though that this disclaimer is enough.
The difference between wanting an unjust system to cease to exist and be replaced by a fair one, to the eventual benefit of all concerned, even the oppressors, and wanting those involved in the system to cease to exist is easily exploited.
“anarchist anti-Zionist bicycling ”
Sorry, but I can’t help wondering whether there is a social-democtratic anti-Zionist style of bicycling, an anarchist but neutral towards Zionism style, a syndicalist-collective style, and so forth.
Anarchist anti-occupation style gives you two months jail in Tel Aviv, which definitely makes it different from other styles. Zionism neutral bicyclist demonstrations in NYC lead to many more arrests but no sentences. So there are some data points that allow to examine the record and discern differences.
In Tel-Aviv case, there were many bicycling demonstrators but only an anarchist got jail time, so indeed, there is a difference between “social democratic” and anarchist anti-Zionist bicycling.
I wonder if Siegel and Atzmon could make some experiments of that nature. Say, anti-Zionist Jazz in Central Park without authorization, to see what police and public would do, with the control experiment conducted by another pair of musicians (with vocal part expressing another message).
PS. Atzmon is controversial, as he offended Marxists and thus deserves this treatment: link to easterncurio.com
If he and at least two female BDS activists have sense of humor, it could be a short part of the same concert.
This is why Zionism may well turn out to be a catastrophe for Jews: many people (probably a majority of people all around the world) now, like Brent Black, associate “the Jews” — the Jewish people, the Jewish community — with Israel. And Israel, thanks to Likud Greater Israelists, has increasingly come to be associated with apartheid, racism, ethnic cleansing, house demolitions, assassinations, wars of aggression, Islamophobia, religious extremism, hostility to free speech, etc.
Why do people like Brent Black believe that Israel=the Jews? Because the Jewish establishment has successfully hammered that false and inflammatory propaganda theme into their heads.
Regarding Brent Black’s sudden reversal: another classic case of being Goldstoned — this time by Black’s “Jewish friends.” Appalling.
Brent Black‘s career is in show business. Maybe he doesn’t want that career to be sidetracked?
What “career”? I think this 2nd rate blogger, Brent Black, is currently proving all across the interweb that he is possibly the biggest prick who ever wanted to be a pseudo jazz writer. He is biased, has incredibly bad ethics, obvious low self esteem, is full of the shallowest insecurities and suffers from mislead self importance. He is an ugly right wing activist who is unable to leave his politics out of his “work”.
He’ll soon be a thing of the past. That’s what happens with people like that.
“This is why Zionism may well turn out to be a catastrophe for Jews: many people (probably a majority of people all around the world) now, like Brent Black, associate “the Jews” — the Jewish people, the Jewish community — with Israel”…sean
Yes, this is the trap. But it is one zionist and Jews built and trapped themselves in. This trap cannot and should not prevent non Jews (and Jews) from attacking Israel or zionism or supporters of Israel status quo. It is up to Jews to escape their own trap, they’re being shown the way out, some of them are taking it.
Sorry you have to experience this, Rich. I’d like to read your defense of Gilad Atzmon. I have come to the conclusion Atzmon is being routinely smeared. And as for Abunimah’s opinion of Atzmon…well, Abunimah is wrong.
And based on Avi’s comment after your post on Feb 4th…
“I recently watched your performance of the song In Palestine, followed by an interview. I enjoyed them both and the song was very moving. Thank you.”
link to vimeo.com…
I went and listened. mama mia…song is absolutely beautiful.
Rich Siegel, “In Palestine” (VIDEO, 12:17) – link to vimeo.com
This is great for sharing with wonderful opportunities to use “wrong key,” “false notes,” etc., in the subject line. Please share your suggestions.
Mr Siegel, jazz isn’t really my thing but I will buy a copy of your CD to find out what the fuss is about. Next time you write to B Black, thank him for increasing sales of your music.
“my humble apologies to my jewish friends”
Who speaks like that save 143 year old Daughters of the Confederacy?
‘Jewish friends.’ How big of him. Does he have ‘homosexual friends’ and ‘blacks’ too?
“Who speaks like that save 143 year old Daughters of the Confederacy?
‘Jewish friends.’ How big of him. Does he have ‘homosexual friends’ and ‘blacks’ too?”
Pretty funny, good one!
RE: “my humble apologies to my jewish friends for reviewing rich sigel (sic) an anti-zionist peace activist that supports the destruction of israel.” ~ Brent Black
MY COMMENT: This is the propaganda device referred to as “name calling” in the Hasbara Handbook (2002) on pages 32-33.
SEE: Hasbara, Shmuel Rosner and the Israel Factor, by Laura Knight-Jadczyk, Signs Of The Times, 1/11/07
ENTIRE ARTICLE – link to sott.net
I am trying to make a thought experiment how a symmetric action would look like and would anybody engage in it. Apparently, Rich Siegel found a place in Schwartze Book of the Enemies of Israel for some infractions, Brent Black was aware of that but also liked his music and wrote a review where he noted both facts.
Then Black got some flack from people whom he calls “my jewish friends” for that and decided to humble himself and atone.
Symmetrically, imagine that someone write a glowing review of a concert of an orchestra supported by the government of Israel for the specific purpose of “promoting brand Israel”. Would BDS supporters give flack to that reviewer? And if not, should they?
PS. I improvised the concept of Schwartze Book to avoid confusion of Mr. Black trying to avoid having his name in the Black Book. One is tempted to engage in dark humor, say, wonder of Black is a dark character in this episode or a patsy. But it is hard to conceptualize a Dark Book.
Brent Black needs to get himself some new and different Jewish friends. Most Jews I know don’t apply ideological criteria (especially ethnic nationalist criteria) to judging art. When they see excellence, they praise it unreservedly.
You didn’t use the word “blacklist”. I suspect you had it in mind, but let me at least mention it for the literal-minded.
“The claim that I support the destruction of Israel is pure libel.”
How so?
The destruction of a racial supremacist state is a commonly adopted humanist goal. It was achieved under our very eyes in the case of South Africa and before that, of Nazi Germany.
Would you advocate a return of the US to being a “White State”?
Thanks everybody, for the great comments, and thanks Egbert, for buying a copy of the CD. I hope you like it. I appreciate the support, and I apologize for not having been a part of this conversation- have been busy- it’s tax time! For those who are interested, the CD is available at all the usual music-sellers on-line.