Stanley Crouch

Stanley Crouch (born December 14, 1945, Los Angeles) is an American music critic, syndicated columnist, and novelist perhaps best known for his jazz criticism and his novel Don't the Moon Look Lonesome?

Related Topics:
December 14 - 1945 - Los Angeles - American - Critic - Columnist - Novel

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During the early 1970s, Crouch moved from California to New York City, where he lived along with tenor saxophonist David Murray in a loft above an East Village club called the Tin Palace. While working as a drummer, Crouch conducted the booking for an avant-garde jazz series at the club, as well as organizing occasional concert events at the Ladies' Fort.

Related Topics:
1970s - California - New York City - David Murray - East Village - Tin Palace - Ladies' Fort

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Since the early 1980s Crouch has become critical of the more progressive forms of jazz and has been associated with the neo-conservative attitudes of Albert Murray. An ardent proselytizer for the music of Wynton Marsalis, he writes the liner notes for all of the trumpeter's albums. A pugilist in the literal sense, Crouch has punched and threatened some of those who cross him; the most infamous example being at the First Annual Jazz Awards. Crouch was invited to present an award, and when reading out the nominees made disparaging comments about two of them: Dave Douglas and Matthew Shipp. After the show, the jazz critic Howard Mandel (who was responsible for much of the work done in creating and organizing the Jazz Awards) confronted Stanley Crouch about his earlier comments. After a short argument, Crouch punched Mandel, and then was confronted by Matthew Shipp himself who called Crouch "an Uncle Tom and a fucking loser". However, the two were however quickly held back from each other and a brawl was avoided. http://www.allaboutjazz.com/birdlives/bl-8.htm

Related Topics:
Albert Murray - Wynton Marsalis - Dave Douglas - Matthew Shipp - Uncle Tom

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In recent years, Crouch has also been a fierce critic of gangsta rap music, primarily its promotion of criminal lifestyles and degrading attitudes toward women. With this viewpoint, he has defended Bill Cosby's controversial remarks and praised a women's group at Spelman College for speaking out against those same qualities. Several of his syndicated columns have been dedicated to these subjects recently.

Related Topics:
Gangsta rap - Bill Cosby - Spelman College

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His syndicated column for the New York Daily News is frequently iconoclastic towards elements of African American culture, and Crouch has criticised, among others, author Alex Haley as well as community leaders such as Al Sharpton.

Related Topics:
New York Daily News - African American - Alex Haley - Al Sharpton

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