If You're Trying to Understand Jazz...

[adorshki]

You could do worse than this:


Local jazz station KCSM uses this for intros to some shows.
Session men're a who's who of cool jazz even going back to bop, all played with Miles Davis.

Excellent rhythm section provides framework for the improvs.
Then the theme repeats. Gorgeous complex chords voiced by horns.

 

[Harp Tail]

Oliver Nelson is underrated in every way. "Black brown and beautiful" is a masterpiece many jazz "snobs" don't even know about.

"The blues and the abstract truth" (what a title!) belongs in every music lover's collection.

 

[Harp Tail]

And I've always felt that jazz suffered much when those same snobs (and purists) diffused the notion that it implies an initiation and somehow requires a fair amount of intellectualism.

Miles Davis used to get mad cause he remembered when jazz was music people would dance to.

 

[GAD]

And I've always felt that jazz suffered much when those same snobs (and purists) diffused the notion that it implies an initiation and somehow requires a fair amount of intellectualism.

Miles Davis used to get mad cause he remembered when jazz was music people would dance to.

While I agree, there are also different subgenres of jazz and laypeople tend to label any complex music the don’t understand as “jazz”.

 

[Harp Tail]

While I agree, there are also different subgenres of jazz and laypeople tend to label any complex music the don’t understand as “jazz”.

And I agree with you, Gad.

"There are only two kinds of music: good and bad" Frank Zappa

 

[Harp Tail]

Who is also credited with having said: "Jazz is not dead - it just smells funny"

 

[Uke]

You could do worse than this:


Local jazz station KCSM uses this for intros to some shows.
Session men're a who's who of cool jazz even going back to bop, all played with Miles Davis.

Excellent rhythm section provides framework for the improvs.
Then the theme repeats. Gorgeous complex chords voiced by horns.

Wow, I've heard this a hundred times and (strangely for me) never knew, or never took time to know, who it was by. I am familiar with everyone who plays on the album except Oliver Neson. Thanks for the post.

 

[Harp Tail]

Then do yourself a favor and look into Nelson's amazing opus.

 

[walrus]

I've never gotten the whole "understand jazz" stuff. Like any other genre, I just listen, and if I like it, I like it.

walrus

 

[GGJaguar]

Excuse me, stewardess. I speak jazz.

 

[bobouz]

Venuti & Lang, Reinhardt & Grappelli, Goodman & Christian - It's a gloriously long & winding road that splintered off in many directions. Intellectualism had nothing to do with it. Indeed, people danced to jazz, and then to rock & roll.

 

[62Slimjim]

​

"Anyone who understands jazz knows that you can't understand it. It's too complicated. That's what's so simple about it." (Yogi Berra)

 

[Doug B]

While I agree, there are also different subgenres of jazz and laypeople tend to label any complex music the don’t understand as “jazz”.

So, like, umm-Taylor Swift is jazz then?

 

[Bernie]

Good album, doesn't smell funny !! . Like Uke I knew this tune (well had heard it), and this version too, but wouldn't have been able to put a name on it ; Oliver Nelson is a saxophone player ?

 

[Cougar]

there are also different subgenres of jazz....

Heh. You can say that again! Like, at least 40!

I never knew I play "jazz blues" since I always "include a ii–V progression in place of the simple V chord and a I–VI/vi–ii–V turnaround at the end of the form."