Jazz for aficionados

fro, I did not write that to you, but thank you anyway... ;--) 

You're welcome Mary_jo; "Ode To Billy Joe" is one of the most fantastic tunes to ever come out, and the beautiful "Bobby Gentry" sang it beautifully. Her album, and music describes "The Delta" in a most colorful manner.

That song came on just as I was crossing a bridge over a river before entering a town in Mississippi, and that was the very first time I heard it; consequently, I deduced, this must be da place. I was wrong.

I remember it was in August, and the year must have been 67, because the song wasn't on the radio or any where in St. Louis; it was spank brand new, and just being tested in Mississippi.

I was cruising across that bridge in my new 66 Deuce; short for Deuce and a quarter; AKA Buick Electra 225.

Steve Gutenberg/snake oil:

Actually, SG is one of the more reasonable guys in audiophile land. Scary? Not really. Why scary?

I do find it interesting that someone who is so anti “audiophile attitude” (not sure what that means) brings up the topic more than anyone else and on a fairly regular basis; in a music thread populated by audiophiles, nonetheless 🤔

On the assumption that any post is, at least to a degree, a solicitation of responses, here are some thoughts that come to mind on this very cold snowy morning in upstate NY while I listen to Miles “At Carnegie Hall” on my humble (by audiophile standards) country cabin system consisting of vintage Meitner electronics (solid state😫; but, at least the amps are monoblocs 😀), Totem speakers and ancient AR turntable. Oh, and Nordost cabling and BDR carbon fiber cones underneath everything......I guess that makes me an audiophile 😱:

- HE audio is a hobby that is not the least bit essential for the appreciation and enjoyment of music.

- HE audio is a hobby that, FOR SOME, enhances the music listening experience. Sometimes a great deal.

- HE audio is a hobby that, FOR SOME, has little to do with music; the pursuit is simply better and better “ear candy”; or, back patting self congratulation.

- HE audio is a hobby that, FOR MOST, the level of involvement falls somewhere between the two above.

- As far as the “ear candy” group goes: Who cares?! Let them have their fun. Better that than collecting assault rifles, no? Not to mention, it’s good for the economy.

- Practically ANY change to an audio system will cause a change in its sound. One of the biggest “influencers” in the perceived characteristics of sound is RESONANCE. Practically anything one does to a physical object will change its resonance characteristics and hence its sound. The same thing happens in live sound and with musical instruments. Change something on the instrument and you will change its sound.

- Whether the change in the sound can be perceived by any given listener is an open question. Like anything else physical, some listeners simply have better hearing acuity than others. Fact of life, but one can work at improving it. One can also learn to perceive differences; a different matter.

- Whether that change in sound is an “improvement” or not is another open question. The answer depends on the listener’s preferences and if the goal is TRULY to get closer to the sound of live music. Then, the amount of experience with and exposure to live music is key. Also a fact of life and no getting around it. “Neutral” is the most abused term in audio.

- Whether the “improvement” in sound is worth the sometimes outrageous prices is a question which is almost as impossible and pointless to try and answer as it is to try and answer the question of whether anything besides Delta Blues can be called The Blues; or, at what precise point in its evolution did Jazz stop being “Jazz”.

- So, yes, cables, footers, different amplifiers, different tubes all make a very real audible difference. Yes, all turntables and all CD players all sound different. Yes, digital sounds fundamentally different from analog. With the best gear the difference is small, but it is still there. On and on. 

- Does it matter? Depends.

https://youtu.be/cWGvsyeayFk

I'm just refreshing my memory on how I got to "Bobby Gentry" who is not jazz. That was in honor of Trentmemphis who is from "The Delta", I think. Is that correct Trentmemphis?

Her album depicts "The Mississippi Delta" as a very colorful rural setting where a young lady could enjoy life. When I listened to her album, I felt I had experienced a little bit of life in The Delta.

The fact that "Ode To Billy Joe" has been recorded by many jazz artists is testimony to it's greatness.


        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ubj-mnkgf8


Maybe you know of other versions of "Ode To Billy Joe" as well.