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The Evolution of Modern Jazz


Shadorne's thread "Outstanding Examples of Musicianship" inspired me to begin this thread. While Shadorne stated that all genre's were welcome, I felt that me and another jazz aficionado were beginning to dominate that thread. Shadorne is a "Rocker", bless his heart. This community functions best when like minded people engage in common dialogue.

The title explains this thread. We will use "youtube" the same as in Shardone's thread to illustrate our examples, and now I begin.

In the beginning, there was Charlie "Bird" Parker, and he said "Let there Be Bop" and thus it began. While walking down the street, Bird ran into John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie, who had similar ideas, so they "Bopped" down the street together; Bird on alto sax and Diz on trumpet. My first illustration of this new music is "Bloomdido" with Bird and Diz. We should cover "Be Bop" in depth before we go to the next phase of this evolution.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MCGweQ8Oso&NR=1
orpheus10
learsfool
1,215 posts
 
Wow, I just now saw this thread - it was started in August when I was temporarily without internet, I see. Great thread, guys, there are several things here I will have to check out. Someone mentioned Jean Luc Ponty earlier - I went to school with his two beautiful daughters for a year. Clara Ponty is a very talented pianist who has made a couple of albums, though her stuff is more New Age rather than jazz. She has performed many times with her father as well. Don't know if any of it is on youtube or not, and I'm too tired to look right now.

Of course the major influence on Jean Luc Ponty was Stephane Grappelli, don't think he was mentioned earlier in this thread - certainly the greatest jazz violinist.
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 
Welcome aboard Learsfool. I'll look for Clara Ponty. Stephane Grappelli is one of everyone's favorite jazz violinist.

As you may have noticed, we progressed a long way in regard to the evolution of modern jazz, and it was fun. Although we, what's left of us; me and Edorr, are into world jazz; you can jump into the discussion anywhere you choose.
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 
I found Clara Ponty; she and her "New Age" music are both very beautiful.
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
One last point:

In my opinion all improvised music is not JAZZ. Can music be seperated from it's roots/history/culture and remain what it is? Jazz is an American art form, and we define it. Others have been very successful in playing Jazz, but true inovation has come from the U.S. I know about the afro-cuban and all the others, but it all came from this country. Stephane Grappelli, a great player, was well aware of this and stated it many times. World Jazz is no more a valid concept than 'world Country & Western' or 'world blues.' It's ours because the social climate and events converged to allow it's creation, and they can't claim it. the 'everyone and thing is equal' folks nowithstanding.
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 
While someone can claim title to a song, no one can own a genre of music. Although "Jazz" originated here, the many "fusions" with music from around the world have made it much better. As far as the word "Jazz" is concerned; on one hand it's too confining, and on the other it's too amorphous to have a definitive definition; therefore, I would concede any argument in regard to the word "Jazz". For those who want to claim exclusivity to the word "Jazz", I say "let them have it". The music, however; is what we hear and feel around the world.. Let's call it "The free peoples music".

As someone once stated, "Free your mind, and the rest of your body parts will follow".
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