Horn scorn

THOUGH I seriously commend neophytes’ use of any means necessary to get “into” jazz, Don Heckman’s review of “Tom Piazza’s Understanding Jazz: Ways to Listen,” [“Snapshots of a Great Era’s Road Trip,” April 30] reminded me of my trumpet-playing friend Don Rader’s response to a nonmusical brother-in-law’s question, “What is jazz?” The reply: “If ya gotta ask ... “

MARY MARGARET MCGUIRE

Palmdale