Frank, I know that the best way to really knowjazz (and any other music) for non-musicians/vocalists like me is to listen to lots of it.

But if there weren't discussion threads like this one, there'd be a lot of interesting stories and opinions that I (and others) wouldn't be able to read and learn from. And I (we) wouldn't know which musicians/vocalist to look up (and look up to).

I guess the key is knowing what is truth and what is fiction. Knowing that experienced musicians such as yourself consider most jazz criticism to be moronic helps to make me more cautious about what I read.

Maybe that book I've been quoting from isn't the truth and nothing but the truth. But it has added to an interesting discussion.

I look forward to more insights and opinions (are they the same thing?) from you and from all other posters to this thread.