The key to enjoying jazz of any type is to listen to it. Listen to all of it.
My cousin introduced me to jazz around the age of fourteen. I cut my teeth on West Coast Jazz. Dave Brubeck Quartet, Howard Rumsey's Light House All-Stars, Shelley Mann, Cal Tjader, etc. It all made sense and sounded so melodic. I loved it.
My cousin loved the likes of Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, and Charles Mingus. I couldn't stand them. My cousin told me to just keep listening, and I would eventually get it. Sure enough, one night while listening to Monk, the lightbulb went on and I realized that the man was a musical genius. The rest followed suit.
A friend of mine is an ex-studio musician (guitar). He loves opera. I couldn't stand it. My friend told me the same thing my cousin did about jazz ... just keep listening to it. So, I put a cassette tape of some opera arias in my car and started listening. Bingo! I now have a very nice collection of complete operas and opera highlights.
So, to the OP and others who don't get abstract jazz, just keep listening. Once you realize that the players are in complete control of the music, you'll start to get it. It helps to follow the bass line.
Frank
My cousin introduced me to jazz around the age of fourteen. I cut my teeth on West Coast Jazz. Dave Brubeck Quartet, Howard Rumsey's Light House All-Stars, Shelley Mann, Cal Tjader, etc. It all made sense and sounded so melodic. I loved it.
My cousin loved the likes of Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, and Charles Mingus. I couldn't stand them. My cousin told me to just keep listening, and I would eventually get it. Sure enough, one night while listening to Monk, the lightbulb went on and I realized that the man was a musical genius. The rest followed suit.
A friend of mine is an ex-studio musician (guitar). He loves opera. I couldn't stand it. My friend told me the same thing my cousin did about jazz ... just keep listening to it. So, I put a cassette tape of some opera arias in my car and started listening. Bingo! I now have a very nice collection of complete operas and opera highlights.
So, to the OP and others who don't get abstract jazz, just keep listening. Once you realize that the players are in complete control of the music, you'll start to get it. It helps to follow the bass line.
Frank