Jazz Conversion

[Alyn_Shipton]

Smittims, I think they're generally called "audiences", and I think (wearing my musician hat) they influence us from the first note to the last...

[cloughie]

I’ve dabbled with Jazz for over 60 years and The two LPs which struck a chord with me were Oscar Peterson’s ‘ Night Train’ and Duke Ellington’s ‘The popular Duke Ellington’ which was a RCA Dynagroove re recording of many of his great tunes from over his long career. Side 1 Track 1 a superb Take the A Train with the Duke on stride piano.

[Ian Thumwood]

Smittims, I think they're generally called "audiences", and I think (wearing my musician hat) they influence us from the first note to the last...

Alyn

If you are into Webern, you probably won't know what an audience is.

[Serial_Apologist]

Alyn

If you are into Webern, you probably won't know what an audience is.

I would think that some of your much admired and respected AACM musicians would strongly disagree.

[kindofblue]

or kind of blue

I'm saying nothing...

[Quarky]

Searching the Web, I located The Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Jazz , written by a famous BBC Jazz presenter!

All the ages of Jazz represented, but what interested me greatly was the choice of Ella Fitzgerald. None of her innumerable recordings of her golden age, but a duo with Louis Jordan in her early years:: Baby It’s Cold Outside.

I've often felt there's a gap in my appreciation of Jazz........

[Ian Thumwood]

Searching the Web, I located The Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Jazz , written by a famous BBC Jazz presenter!

All the ages of Jazz represented, but what interested me greatly was the choice of Ella Fitzgerald. None of her innumerable recordings of her golden age, but a duo with Louis Jordan in her early years:: Baby It’s Cold Outside.

I've often felt there's a gap in my appreciation of Jazz........

I think that the association stems from their days with Chick Webb.

[smittims]

Thanks, Alyn, point taken. Quite right of course; I was thinking of the influence of one man's work on another

[burning dog]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us_XMPfAgHU

[Ian Thumwood]

Looking through the suggestions, it is striking just how accessible some great jazz is. I think the issue for people unfamiliar with jazz is getting over the non-existant barrier of jazz being perceived to be inaccessible.

[smittims]

Also, I think some listeners are resistant to jazz because they are too used to listening to only one other musical genre (e,g, classicalor 'easy listening') and cannot adjust.

[Old Grumpy]

Also, I think some listeners are resistant to jazz because they are too used to listening to only one other musical genre (e,g, classicalor 'easy listening') and cannot adjust.

Classicalor...

at least that might keep you warm!

[Ein Heldenleben]

Louis Armstrong Potato Head Blues
My Old Flame Charlie Parker
Daybreak Express Duke Ellington and band *
Sing Sing Sing Benny Goodman et al
Haunted Heart Bill Evans

* single choice

if you don’t like any of those I don’t think jazz is for you …

[Serial_Apologist]

Classicalor...

at least that might keep you warm!

What a gas!!!

[Ian Thumwood]

Also, I think some listeners are resistant to jazz because they are too used to listening to only one other musical genre (e,g, classicalor 'easy listening') and cannot adjust.

I think that has a lot to do with either a lack of interest or laziness. I would concur with EH's suggestions it can be as easy as making associations with music your do like. if you are a fan of Bach, MJQ might offer a way in, if you like Jimi Hendrix, you should try an album like John Abercrombie's "Timeless", etc, etc. There has always been a commerical element in jazz which has not always been detrimental to the music and most listeners with an open ear should be able to find a route in. A lot of people have a steroetype of jazz being all middle and no beginning or end. It is just a matter of finding the connections with music that you do like. Jazz has plenty of "fuzzy" boarders which should make this easy without taking an immediate plunge into Coltrane at the Village Vanguard.

Tippping the question on it;s head, I think it is interesting to maybe argue you should stop listening to pop music where it is simple. I have had the discussion with friends where I have suggested that a particular piece of music consists of a 4-bar loop or even if just a vamp on one chord. Once you have "cracked the code" I have mooted that it is time to move on to something else. It is a snobby reaction to pop / rock music but it is quite interesting discussing this with friends who are musical who are willing to acknowledge that a of pop music is pretty simple and also profess to admire jazz but are baffled by it. What surprised me is that how "tight" these musicians may be as a band to the extent that I really admire the fact that they are far better musicians than i could ever be. They problem solve chords whilst still being curious as to how jazz musicians think about adding 7ths etc to chords beyond the normal triads and also the scales derived from the chords. In my mind, if you can "unpick" music like this, getting in to jazz should be easy if you are inquisitive. Granted, not knowing the mechanics of music could be a barrier to getting in to jazz . However, if you understand the theory I feel that you are likely to be half-way there.