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What is Jazz?


As a self proclaimed expert and "aficionado", I should know the answer to that question; but I don't, because the answer is too complex.

As one example; Inna posted that he didn't like jazz, and in his next post he raved about a piece of music that I considered to be jazz. In Inna's case I understood the contradiction, he doesn't like "hard bop".

On the other hand, Rok2id's definition of jazz is so narrow that many of my jazz records and CD's, would be considered to be something other than "jazz".

What is "jazz" to you and can you define it?
orpheus10

Showing 4 responses by frogman

frogman
7,494 posts
 
"If you have to ask what jazz is, you'll never know."- Louis Armstrong

"You blows who you is" - Louis Armstrong

"Hot can be cool & cool can be hot & each can be both. But hot or cool man, Jazz is Jazz." - Louis Armstrong

One of the many reasons Louis was the greatest jazz musician that ever lived.
frogman
7,494 posts
 
Charles1dad, of course you are correct. But, I would bet you my Manley mono's (and I'll throw in my Columbia Six-Eye "Kind Of Blue") that if you were to poll 100 jazz musicians and ask them who they would pick (if they had to) as THE greatest jazz musician, and the one who best embodied the essence of jazz as they understand it, that the overwhelming majority would pick Louis Armstrong. Regards.
frogman
7,494 posts
 
Actually, the quote is (upon being asked what jazz is):

"Man, if you have to ask, you'll never know"

A couple other favorite Armstrong quotes:

**** To jazz, or not to jazz, there is no question ****

**** If I don’t practice for a day, I know it. If I don’t practice for two days, the critics know it. And if I don’t practice for three days, the public knows it
****

**** If they act too hip, you know they can't play shit ****

**** If anybody was Mr. Jazz it was Louis Armstrong. He was the epitome of jazz and always will be. He is what I call an American standard, an American original **** - Duke Ellington
frogman
7,494 posts
 
I don't share the cynicism and negativity expressed in some of the posts above. The "demise" of jazz as some of us would like to remember it was inevitable. To accept this inevitability is to truly understand the art form. No one destroyed jazz. Jazz like any other art form is a reflection of the times and the societal forces of that time. Society evolves; so does the art that reflects it. Great artists push the boundaries of creativity until there comes a time when the art can only repeat itself. To quote Louis Armstrong once again:

**** "I never tried to prove nothing, just wanted to give a good show. My life has always been my music, it's always come first, but the music ain't worth nothing if you can't lay it on the public. The main thing is to live for that audience, 'cause what you're there for is to please the people ****

Some interesting reading (hearing) on the subject:

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?v=Zk3ll9NE0IY

http://nicholaspayton.wordpress.com/2011/11/27/on-why-jazz-isnt-cool-anymore/
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