Going Postal September 09 2000

Undercovered??
I was stunned while reading James Rozzi’s article in Suitable Venues (CL, Aug 17) when he said that freely improvised music has taken a solid foothold here and gives credit for the packed house at the Peter Brotzmann/Chicago Tentet concert, June 28 at the Variety to the promoters and active venues. I beg to differ with his conclusion. As I recall, extensive coverage was provided by your paper highly touting the merits of these fine musicians. If there weren’t the coverage in your widely read publication, do you really think there would have been a packed house?

On June 9, there was a magnificent concert held in this city which your publication chose to give minimal coverage. At the historical First Congrega-tional Church, the audience in attendance experienced stellar performances by Myra Melford (solo), one of the most imaginative pianists in jazz; Kidd Jordan, a master in his own right of free improvisation; and Fred, Van Hove, one of the grandfathers of Belgian free jazz(duo). There would have been a packed house that night if you had chosen to give equa1 cover to the event. Shame on you!

-- Cynthia M. Morrison, Decatur

Back to the FutureFest

Stephanie Ramage and Creative Loafing are to be complimented for the highly charged investigative article on FutureFest and our ever-so thorough Fulton County Deputies. There are just three issues that appear to warrant follow-up:

1. If Sgt. Rajee Allen demanded and received the entire cash receipts for the event, absent any documentation (tax ID), he stole the money. He extorted those receipts. No private security company has the power to do what he did. But more to the point he should receive a 1099 for the entire amount. It is certainly to be hoped that off-duty sheriff’s deputies honestly report their cash income. I’m sure that Sgt. Allen has everyone’s social security number, and that he withheld all the necessary amounts. Based on Captain David Chadd’s statement, it would appear Fulton County Sheriff’s Department has an imperfect knowledge of federal law.

2. In what capacity was Sgt. Nikita Hightower acting when she called Jive magazine, and threatened them? Private citizen or sheriff’s deputy? On the one hand Chadd says it’s up to individual officers to “hammer out” their own deals; on the other, Hightower threatens to sue (“libelous”), if the an online journal reports the shut down. The sheriff’s department can’t have it both ways.

3. Does all of the above put a new light on H. Rap Brown’s claims? Based on your story, it would appear that sheriff’s deputies are little better than an armed posse available to the highest bidder (“hammer out their own deals”).

Last, but not least, members of the Public Affairs Division of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department need a lesson on First Amendment Law. Good Luck.

— Stan Risdon, Atlanta?