Letters to the Editor

What You Say

Bang the drum slowly

Shaun Brady's piece on drummer Justin Faulkner was as fine a piece of journalism I've read in the City Paper [Cover Story, "The Sound and the Glory," Shaun Brady, Aug. 6, 2009]. It's not just that he paid attention to one of the fine, relatively unknown jazz musicians for which Philly is famous. It was sensitively written and serves to vividly illustrate the unique mentor-student relationships that our musicians have always enjoyed and are still spanning generations. This is the stuff what will ensure Philadelphia's reputation as a world-class provider of talent into this century.

My congratulations to Shaun Brady on the superb Justin Faulkner piece. Likewise to Faulkner, as well, for his talents and his dedication to jazz. Coincidentally, I was a Philadelphia-based, up-and-coming jazz drummer in the '60s, mentored by the late and great Al Grey, Charlie Ventura, Milt Buckner, Bernard Peiffer and many others. I would hope and trust that Faulkner will seek out the talents of some of the legendary drummers of yesteryear, including "Papa" Jo Jones, Gene Krupa, Sid Catlett, Chick Webb, Buddy Rich, Max Roach, Kenny Clarke, Philly Joe Jones, Louie Bellson and Roy Haynes among them. Their drumming was — and is —timeless.

How many of your writers are actually from Philadelphia? Before you take another cheap shot at the Northeast [The Bell Curve, Aug. 6, 2009], I feel that some sort of disclosure is in order. I'm sick of your broke-ass, suburb-reared, editorial staff of hipster journalism majors taking cheap shots at a section of the city that is home to one-third of its native residents. Just because no one up here reads your rag doesn't mean you have to be insulting.

In last week's Sports Complex [Naked City, "Top Tees," E. James Beale, Aug. 6, 2009], we incorrectly identified new Phillie Cliff Lee's uniform number. Lee wears number 34. City Paper regrets the error.