Why do people like Jazz music?

Question

Let me give you some background information on my question. I was hired to run the soundboard at a jazz club in Fullerton, CA a year ago, which I'm still working at. When I was hired, I had a mild appreciation/understanding of jazz music, but had never really gotten around to listening to it the way I had listened to other music I liked. After having worked here for a year, I've realized that there are only so many ways a person can arrange "Take The A Train" and still make it interesting. I know that improvisation is one of the major draws of jazz, but improvisation for improvisation's sake is silly, especially when I can't tell the difference between 90% of the solos that are played here. I hear an original song once or twice a month, but when I do it sounds like every other straight-ahead jazz song I've heard. I can understand why Jazz was cool during it's formative years. Compared to everything else people were listening to, it was out of this world and offensive to their ears. However, now that Jazz has been around for 80+ years, I want to know where the artists are. It seems that all of these world class musicians are too busy rearranging tunes from the 40's to write new music. I mean, after all, when John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Fats Waller, and all of those other jazz greats were in their prime, they were writing new songs. Isn't that what music is really all about at the end of the day? Creating things no one has heard before? I think the reason American's generally don't like jazz isn't because they "just don't get it" but rather because they're not interested in hearing the same songs. They want new things; they want borders to be stretched and barriers to be broken. It doesn't seem like jazz has done that.

So now, to my real question:

How can anyone who likes music as an exploration of new sounds and genres still get a kick out of jazz?

Answer 1

"However, now that Jazz has been around for 80+ years, I want to know where the artists are."



New York City.





If you can't make it out here to this coast, then the next best thing is its ONLY real jazz station, WKCR.

WKCR plays all jazz, and I mean jazz styles you never knew existed.

The DJs are volunteers from the jazz department of Columbia University. Most often, the nontraditional stuff is played on two programs, the Out to Lunch show (noon-3pm), and Jazz alternatives 6-9pm).

Believe me, there is no other station is like WKCR.

All the DJs play very different stuff so make sure you hear a full weeks programming. I'm sure you will hear what you've been missing.



http://www.columbia.edu/cu/wkcr/

Answer 2

I Love Jazz Music

Answer 3

Jazz has changed a lot over the years.....Dixiland, Big Band, Bop Hard Bop Acid jazz, Fusion, so many sub catagories. I think some people just don't like the vocabulary. When I was little I couldn't hear it. Now i love like Thelonious Miles all of it but some more than others...the great thing about music is you are free to dig what you dig....but just because you don't enjoy one type of style doesn;t mean it has no merit. jazz like blues and r&b has influenced all other styles. And other styles have gotten stuck in formulas from time to time also. Most of what passes for Pop or rock (which i love also)is pretty predictable. Still you may have a point that today jazz doesn't seem to have as many people writing entirely new songs. Standards seem to come out of Pop/Rock and then get treated. I get that point. maybe the next wave of Jazz is just around the corner.

Answer 4

I don't know about everyone else, but I don't listen to jazz (most types of jazz) like I do soul, rock, blues, or even classical. It just seems like the other styles of music are very orderly and you have a feeling of what's coming next so you look forward to that next part in the song. When I'm talking to somebody or emailing people or whatever sometimes it's hard to concentrate when I have rock or whatever in the backround because I get really caught up in the song. But with jazz, especially guys like Miles Davis and John Coltrane, it's perfect for backround music, because it's just mellow and relaxing. I don't like going to a jazz concert because when I go to concert, I'm there simply to enjoy the music and I can't just sit and listen to jazz for hours. There are a few exeptions, some types that are very organized. The big band music of the 30s and 40s and the ragtime and stride piano playing. I could sit and listen to that stuff for hours. That's just me. Some people might be different.

Answer 5

Most jazz I've heard is MUCH more creative than music of other genres. I do agree, though, that there is a lot of jazz that is really "typical" sounding. But overall, jazz always continues to amaze me with it's complexity and uniqueness. If you can't understand jazz, you just haven't tried. So I'd encourage you to take the time to listen to some good jazz - It's definitely worth it!

Answer 6

I'v e been listening to jazz since I was a kid. My dad was a drummer and a DJ back in the day so I was kind of forced to listen. Jazz is one of those things - you either love it or hate it. I personally love it. I think that as far a barriers being stretched, you can't stretch further than jazz. Unfortunately, it's more theoretical and not as easily understood by the general masses. I have always thought of jazz as musician's music. I mean, who in their right might would think Monk was a genius (which he was) other than a musician?



At the end of the day music is music. Some things appeal to some people. That's it. I can't stand reggae for more than about 5 minutes. But I could listen to Miles blow all day....

Answer 7

Jimmy. is right--Django Reinhardt's work NEVER gets boring!



Also, you might want to check out Wes Montgomery, Lenny Breau and, for a more modern guitarist, check out Mike Stern. There's also a jazz pianist/vocalist by the name of Diana Krall that I'd recommend checking out.



You might also want to listen to country guitarist Brad Paisley's instrumental "Time Warp" which starts off as a jazz song, then switches to country then back and forth between the two and eventually gets to blues and back to jazz and country. Paisley also has a straight-up jazz instrumental called "Les is More," which is a great jazz instrumental.



EDIT: I didn't feel that I actually answered the question, so I thought I'd add on to what I originally said. Anyway, I find jazz very interesting and, in most cases, very technical and difficult. Perhaps others who like jazz feel the same way as I do, but I'm not 100% sure.

Answer 8

Though I am no specialist I find the question interesting. I would start by watching the tools, the musical instruments that are currently used in both classic and jazz music. The most obvious I can think of is the piano. Two features in playing the piano : rhythm is given by the left hand and melody by the right hand. This holds true in both classical and jazz music. What about musical formation , You can find quartets and quintets in both classic and jazz music. There must be a lead instrument : for example flute in classic and saxophone in jazz. There has to be bass too, which holds true in bithe musical genres. There are orchestras, to play classical symphonies and standards in jazz. In terms of singing, you can find great soloists in both classical and jazz music.

Answer 9

Well, for one, it's decent sound. Unless you like trashy music go for those songs with so many vulgar words in it. Only refine people will understand Jazz music. If you're one classy person, you'll know.. :)

And also, why did you ask since it is clear you wouldn't listen to the reasons.

Answer 10

While I view new takes on standards as interesting, to each his own.

I never get tired of Django. I never get tired of Oscar Peterson.



You want broken barriers? We tried that. Stan Getz tried it. Started with latin jazz, then it went all downhill. I despise fusion, maybe it's just me. Sounds like overprocessed crap.



The raw, intimate sound of Miles Davis, the percussive playing of Thelonious Monk: we can never achieve what they did. Those that can succeed and make great music are sidelined, only because they aren't in on the scene yet. They turn towards the effortless music of today.





You can still explore with jazz, it all depends on your perception. Sorry for such an ambiguous answer, but it's the only way I can think.

Answer 11

I completely disagree. you want pushing borders, creating things nobody's every done before? Jazz has that in spades. it sounds like you work in a "standards" club. that's not what jazz as an art form is.





Check out Chris Potter or Charlie Hayden. they will change your mind.

Answer 12

Because the sounds are beautiful. I don't hear much beauty in the current pop world of music (Steely Dan still rocks). And if you don't hear the beauty (and get goose bumps), don't listen to it. No hassles.

Answer 13

(I'm going to appologize ahead of time for being so rude and over reacting)

I'm going to answer your question I just want to say that you are, in my mind, the biggest idiot I have ever met. You should not be working in a standards club. You are the kind of person that will only ever like pop and rock because you are to lazy and stupid to try to challenge yourself and REALLY listen to jazz. You can listen to as many jazz songs as you want but until you REALLY listen and try to understand it you will never get jazz and you will think it's boring as hell. I'm not saying that you have to be smart to understand jazz. Anyone can do that, but people like you are already stuck in the mindset that jazz is stupid. You say you can't tell the difference between musicians solos? Well that is because you expect to hear it and to just get it like rock and pop. You basically say that it's not music if it's not new. Forgive me for being so frank, but that is bull sh1t. Most jazz musicians are not known composing, but for interpreting songs and making them their own. In my opinion, I think that you have allot to learn and my guess is that most other people who read this question believe this too.