I have been informed by critics since high school. If I had not discovered Down Beat in 1961 I would probably be a doctor or working at Wal-Mart.
I had been led to jazz by my dad's love of the big bands and developed a thirst for more info. Martin Williams, Nat Hentoff, George Hoefer, Leonard Feather, John Tynan, Ira Gitler, Gilbert Erskine, Barbara Gardner, Ralph Gleason, Donal Henahan, Don DeMichael, Bill Mathieu, Pete Welding, John S Wilson, etc.
We all need "somewhere" to test our opinions and attitudes. These folks did this for me. I do believe we all grow when we are challenged.
Later in my life as my toes dipped into the water Terry Martin, Larry Kart, John Litweiler and others provided "nudges" worth gold.
Sorry to say most current "jazz journalism" and opinions from the internet community do not seem to be as "eye opening" as journalistic messages from a remote scribe with no need for quick "appreciation".
My edit is to add the names jazz writers Max Harrison, Michael James, G E Lambert, Albert McCarthy, Burnett James, Paul Oliver and Charles Fox to the list of "influences". Jack Cooke was a MoFo as well. Shit! I'm sure I forgot some.
Unfortunately my influences were constrained by my typically American "monolingual" situation.
Thanks to all.