Lennie Tristano: Watered-Down Bop Destroying Jazz

"Under the auspices of producer Norman Granz, Parker fulfilled a long-held desire to record in a string setting."

There are many reasons why jazz musicians played with "strings." There were undoubtedly commercial reasons. Musicians need to make enough money to support themselves and their families - its not easy being a professional musician.  Sometimes there was a desire to appeal to a wider audience. Some saw it as a challenge. And some actually liked the sound of "strings." Some pretty good albums have been made with "strings." I just spent some time yesterday listening to Cannonball Adderley's 1958 EmArcy album JUMP FOR JOY which was recorded with a string quartet and it was quite enjoyable. Cannonball soaring over the "strings" was quite a treat, as is, for example Stan Getz on his 1961 Verve release FOCUS.

To criticize a jazz musician for playing "the melody" is absurd, isn't it?  Harmony, melody and rhythm - perhaps Tristano never quite got that point.

To criticize from a privileged position is easy. I don't like Tristano's music and many of his views, even less.  As we know, jazz has survived the occasional meeting of jazz musician and "strings."

Thank you for posting a link to the article.  I enjoy reading these old interviews. 

Tristano was a fine musician, to my ears, but there was no point to his criticism, and I think it is unhelpful at best, and actively more harmful than anything Bird could play at worst.