LSAT 150 | Section 4 | Reading Comprehension: Q3

RC Question 3 Explanation

DISCUSSION: It sounds like there are two major critiques:

1. Marsalis has stifled jazz
2. Record labels aren’t publishing new jazz artists

Of these, I think the second is the biggest complaint. Marsalis is just one man, and he isn’t some jazz dictator. If record labels were encouraging new artists, there would be space for innovation in jazz.

The author is actually quite complimentary towards Marsalis and his goals, see lines 37-45. The problem is in lines 46-58: record labels stopped putting out new music.

___________

1. By the final paragraph, the author didn’t even mention the critics. Instead, the author’s criticism in lines 45-58 is reserved entirely for record labels. So, it seems the author isn’t that influenced by the critics opinions.
2. Paragraph 2 is ambiguous. It says Marsalis hasn’t released a new album since 1999. But….is this because Marsalis stopped trying, or because labels stopped publishing new music? In other words, Marsalis might still be trying to release new music, but the labels aren’t interested. Nowhere in the passage did the author say Marsalis gave up. In any case, the author’s main complaint is in lines 45-58: record labels abandoned new music in order to chase profit.
3. As in A, the author really isn’t that concerned by what the critics say. Even without hearing Marsalis speak out, the author defended Marsalis’ views, in lines 37-45.
4. CORRECT. This would satisfy the author’s complaints in lines 18-23 and 45-58. The author doesn’t like that record companies have stopped developing new jazz artists.
5. If anything, young jazz musicians favor tradition too much. That was the whole complaint against Marsalis. The author certainly regrets that no new jazz music is emerging.