Jazz for aficionados

Learsfool & The Frogman:

Let me make a few points:

1. You do not offend me when you correct me or display knowledge that I don't possess. I spent 30 years in the U.S. Military. You get used to blunt, straight talk. No tap dancing or sugar coating. Thin skins don't survive. I have no modesty, and I cannot be offended.

Now I would bet, that if I asked you how to deploy a platoon in the field or how to call in artillery support or how to defend against Chemical, Biological and Nuclear attacks or where to place the Machine Guns or where to dig the Fighting Positions, there is a good chance you would not know. Does not reflect on your intelligence. It's just that you have not been trained to do these things. I hope you get my point.

I view your participation in this type thread as an oppourtunity to pick your brains. With the full realization that you two must be bored to tears.

2. I was just thinking about gaining more musical knowledge. I wonder if that is not a two edged sword. Sure I could have better understanding as to what I am hearing, and what the musicians are doing. But, at the same time if seems as if it would take more to impress me.

I hear CDs now and I am in awe of what I hear. The Frogman not so much. He knows too much. I marvel at 'hog calling blues' but I don't think the Frogman was as impressed as I am. He can disect the action. To me it's just wonderful confusion, that somehow never quite flys apart, and comes together in the end.!

When I was a kid growing up, I loved military movies. Didn't miss a one that came to my town. I also worked at the movie house, so I saw them all free. Then later, I was drafted and went into the real military. Loved everyday of the 30 years. No greater life. BUT, I can no longer bear to sit thru a military movie. Why? Because they are 99% BS. I now know too much.

Will the same thing happened if a person increases
his knowledge of the making and playing of music? Esp Jazz improvisation. It's one thing to know and then play. Another to know and just listen to others play. Or so I would think.

Learsfool: I have at least 10 differnt performances of LvB's 7th. I love them all. I bet you would not.

Just thinking out loud.

Cheers

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Hey Frogman, GREAT ARTICLE! Thanks for sharing, Freddie is one of my favorite trumpeters. It was good to read about him.
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Rok, excellent and very honest post! First of all, thank you for your service.

****You get used to blunt, straight talk. No tap dancing or sugar coating. Thin skins don't survive. I have no modesty, and I cannot be offended.****

I respect that; and probably the reason that in spite of the fireworks in this and in other threads we can joke about hog calling.

****how to call in artillery support or how to defend against Chemical, Biological and Nuclear attacks or where to place the Machine Guns or where to dig the Fighting Positions, there is a good chance you would not know. ****

Very true. But, I assure that in the scheme of my world as a working musician it has often felt as if I have had to defend against similar attacks (bad time and intonation. :-)

**** I wonder if that is not a two edged sword. Sure I could have better understanding as to what I am hearing, and what the musicians are doing. But, at the same time if seems as if it would take more to impress me.****

Probably. But, you will be that much more impressed when you are.

****I have at least 10 differnt performances of LvB's 7th. I love them all.****

Do you like some more than others? Can you isolate what it is that you like about the ones that you listen to most?

I understand your concern and it proves my point about the aversion to learning more. You mentioned the Mingus recording. I love that cut! Not sure why you would think that I am less impressed with it than you are, other than the fact that I did a simple analysis of Rahsaan's solo (which is fantastic) and was able to describe some aspects of it. That in no way detracts from my enjoyment of it; in fact, it only increases it. But, it also serves to lay bare the bullshitters who honk and squawk and try to impress with their "individuality" and "energy". That is a good thing, IMO.

Regards.

Rok2kid, I too share your technical ignorance about music form, etc. In fact mine ignorance is rather profound, at least so I'm told. :-) That said, consider that most folks, and I assume you as well, have grown accustomed to wearing 2 hats in 'audio', i.e. you have lots of knowledge about audio components, set ups, and the results of careful attention to the details. Obviously in order to really enjoy listening to music you must learn how to disregard your audio achievements. Some folks do get hung up on listening to soundstage, detail/resolution, and such but for the most part they will risk burning out on the audio hobby if they can't get past this and learn how to listen thru and focus on the music.

I think as much can be said about listening to music. You can have a lot of knowledge about music, appreciate the theory and practices of composition and performance, yet be able to listen beyond that and just enjoy. As Frogman indicated the best part of having some knowledge is that when you find music you really love if you have some knowledge you will know why you love it.

It has become clear from recent posts that A-Gon's music forum has some participants that speak to the subject, not so much about themselves. A breath of fresh air! Consider, Rok, that if you have no knowledge you can only express a subjective opinion which can limit discussions and make them one dimensional.

FWIW.

"Music appreciation of the 'high end' seems to stop at 'Kind of Blue', and then only if it's an 'audiophile' pressing." If I hear that mentioned one more time I'm going to have twins.

Rok, I'm not sure we're communicating when we talk about "Blues", because I never liked what we called "gut bucket" blues. As a matter of fact we're talking about a whole different culture of people, not just music. Many people who like "gut bucket" blues don't seem to be aware of that.

Enjoy the music.