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 1 response by mezmo

Thought I saw the idea above, but kinda like trying to define pornography. When the US Spreme Court was asked to do so, the best the supposedly best nine legal/jurisprudential minds in the country could do for guidance is "you know it when you see it." (That and some nonsensical, community-based, idiosyncratic, sliding, festooned, subjective drivel).

And I always thought the Armstrong quote (or, another one, at any rate) was, in response to the question by a reporter what is jazz, "honey, if you gotta ask, you'll never understand."