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What is Jazz?


As a self proclaimed expert and "aficionado", I should know the answer to that question; but I don't, because the answer is too complex.

As one example; Inna posted that he didn't like jazz, and in his next post he raved about a piece of music that I considered to be jazz. In Inna's case I understood the contradiction, he doesn't like "hard bop".

On the other hand, Rok2id's definition of jazz is so narrow that many of my jazz records and CD's, would be considered to be something other than "jazz".

What is "jazz" to you and can you define it?
orpheus10
frogman
7,493 posts
 
Actually, the quote is (upon being asked what jazz is):

"Man, if you have to ask, you'll never know"

A couple other favorite Armstrong quotes:

**** To jazz, or not to jazz, there is no question ****

**** If I don’t practice for a day, I know it. If I don’t practice for two days, the critics know it. And if I don’t practice for three days, the public knows it
****

**** If they act too hip, you know they can't play shit ****

**** If anybody was Mr. Jazz it was Louis Armstrong. He was the epitome of jazz and always will be. He is what I call an American standard, an American original **** - Duke Ellington
frogman
7,493 posts
 
I don't share the cynicism and negativity expressed in some of the posts above. The "demise" of jazz as some of us would like to remember it was inevitable. To accept this inevitability is to truly understand the art form. No one destroyed jazz. Jazz like any other art form is a reflection of the times and the societal forces of that time. Society evolves; so does the art that reflects it. Great artists push the boundaries of creativity until there comes a time when the art can only repeat itself. To quote Louis Armstrong once again:

**** "I never tried to prove nothing, just wanted to give a good show. My life has always been my music, it's always come first, but the music ain't worth nothing if you can't lay it on the public. The main thing is to live for that audience, 'cause what you're there for is to please the people ****

Some interesting reading (hearing) on the subject:

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?v=Zk3ll9NE0IY

http://nicholaspayton.wordpress.com/2011/11/27/on-why-jazz-isnt-cool-anymore/
inna
7,757 posts
 
Yeah. And it is not only about jazz, it is about art in general. Tony Scott, an excellent musician, was, I think, one of the first jazzmen who spent most of his time abroad. Miles Davis played Agharta/Pangaea concert in Japan, John McLaughlin moved back to Europe in the late 70s though performs from time to time in the States, French director invited Miles to compose film soundrack.
A number of years ago I heard a Danish jazz/rock fusion group play, and it was great, almost as good as Mahavishnu Orchestra at their best. Jazz is very popular in Poland, Scandinavia and even France. Japanese are crazy both about jazz and Spain's flamenco.
What is going on here, in the place of origin of blues and jazz?
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Chazro, a few years back, during the break; I was talking to Ahmad Jamal and his musicians; they told me that after the show in Chicago they were headed to Japan. Furthermore, they told me that without Japan they couldn't survive.
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Although Pat Metheny plays guitar, he is such a fantastic musician; that I don't think of him as a guitarist, the same way I don't think of Mingus as a bassist.

Pat Metheny is "very well" represented in my collection, while I don't have one, single solitary Kenny G anything.
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