[Tradjazz] What is jazz?

[Bruce McNichols]

Trevor Rippingale has made some very astute observations.  Since he pretty much agrees with me, I find him to be brilliant.

But seriously folks, the bottom line seems to be that Trevor, as I, is comfortable with the idea that there is no "wrong" and no "right."  Ya like what ya like, and that's that.  
  Trevor really knows what would make our discussion group even more of a hornet's nest, when he referred to Artie Shaw.  I certainly didn't agree with all of what Artie Shaw had to say (and he sure said plenty), but I always listened, and was always entertained - never more so than the time he was on the Tonight Show, along with Buddy Rich.  Whew!
I'm reminded of that old adage:  There are three things musicians should never talk about - Politics, Religion, and Intonation.  We should add:  and the definition of Jazz.

~~~
When my daughter was a teenager, she went through a phase of liking Rap.  The phrase "Not talkin' to me," never had a better home.  The saving grace for me, was that she took many years of lessons, learning (and loving) classical piano.  At around that same time (the Rap Years) she joined a Latin Dance troupe and traveled world with them (L.A., Atlanta, Costa Rica, Switzerland and New York's Lincoln Center).  I did not make my feelings about Rap known to her (although I'm sure she knew) but I did lavish praise on her for the things I really cared about.
  I read that in the 1920's the Charleston was known as the Devil's Music.  Who am I to knock Rap, or anything else?
~~~
As I'm sure we all know, this discussion is not over.  Indeed, it has barely begun!

McN


      To: <tradjazz at list.okom.com>  
      Subject: [Tradjazz] What is jazz?  
      Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 10:15:11 +1000  
      From: "trevor rippingale" <trevrip at bigpond.com>   
     

      This is a multi-part message in MIME format. 
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      Bruce, 
              I'd like to comment on the "what is jazz?" exchanges between Bill, Bruce, Billy and others. What a pity our old friend Artie Shaw isn't still around to add to the confusion ! 
               But really, I find such discussions all quite edifying. Its like trying to answer "what is the purpose of life?" We'll never know, but its great to ponder its implications. 
               The discussion to date reveals the kaleidoscopic nature of this wonderful "jazz" thing : so many styles, so many ways of approaching it, and all valid, with a rightful place in the mystery and magic of this wonderful art-form. The main thing to avoid is demanding that our own view of it is the only "correct" one (where else have I seen attitude recently ?).
                 I like Bruce's approach that a lot of the more recent jazz "doesn't speak to" him : I share his view. But each of us is a different animal with different inherited and learnt preconceptions that we bring to all of our value judgements. Given this, its a surprise to me that humans can ever agree about anything ! ...and the state of the world seems to prove that just now !
                 Personally, my jazz appreciation embraces everything up to the end of the Stan Kenton era, with the exception of Bop, which has never "struck a chord" with me. I stand in awe of the great boppers' abilities, but they don't raise the hairs on my neck. Post cool era developments don't "speak to" me (as Bruce would say). 
                  Oh well....fire away !!
                                                   Trevor
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