Sorry to continue the discussion, but this is something that gets on my tits.
This sort of argument comes out rather more sensibly if you consider the
music as communication rather than art. The musician is really trying to say
something about how they feel (about their soul, if you're that way
inclined), and to express themselves as well as possible.
You're right that if you get rid of any of the content (the emotion, the
feel, what some people would call the art) in an effort to shift units,
you're missing the point, but exactly the same is true if you don't try to
get people to hear the message.
It's probably worth bearing in mind that for most of Miles' career, he was
trying desperately to get through to 'the kids' rather than the staid jazz
establishment, and that this quest gave us some incredible innovations and
some astoundingly beautiful music, as well as opening up the whole history of
jazz to a generation who would otherwise have missed it.
d.
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