Blue Like Jazz
This a commentary from a friend of mine who is a Christ follower and an amazing jazz musician. It was spurred from discussion regarding the book Blue Like Jazz. Thanks Jeff!
Part of the non-musical appeal of jazz is the exclusivity of understanding the music at a deeper level. Only a small percentage of musicians can approach the jazz idiom with any success technically and from an expression standpoint; an even smaller percentage of listeners has the ability to listen and appreciate what is going on in a quality jazz performance. Hence, the temptation for those who listen to and play jazz is to write off others for their lack of empathy and respect for the art form. This leads jazz musicians and fans to evaluate and ultimately dismiss others based on their musical tastes, as in “hey, all they like is Britney Spears and Elton John”.
Or, even worse, have to put up with the pretender who THINKS they know jazz and who make statements like, “Kenny G can really play, man”. What they don’t know that there is not a single jazz saxophonist alive who admires Kenny G - the guy is faux hip, an impostor who plays weak, sappy melodies, lots of fast arpeggios that give the impression he has great technique, all the while lacking the ability to play his instrument in tune - he is constantly above or below the pitch. Meanwhile, Wayne Shorter, who replaced Coltrane in Miles Davis’ legendary quintet in the 1960’s, has never played a single flat note on his soprano saxophone, written literally hundreds of compositions that are revered by the best musicians, and who has stunned people in live performance for 40 years or more, is hardly known in this country. Yet in Japan, they stand in line in the rain for tickets to hear him. Go figure.
This is what develops and encourages cynicism and amusement with “outsiders” by jazz players and true fans. How can you take seriously people who think Boy George or Jay-Z have “talent”? Such a supposition is a cruel joke, so ridiculous as to be depressing. Talent? Compare those two with individuals who have labored for years and years to study their instruments or voices in order to gain unfettered mastery of their musical craft, so they can express their innermost being without limitations (see, as an example, Herbie Hancock’s piano solo on “Summertime” from his Grammy award winning CD “Gershwin’s World”), only to be virtually ignored by the rest of the population. Something is cosmically out of place.
Blue like Jazz. Jazz doesn’t resolve, and it is hard to resolve the isolation jazz players and fans have from the majority. But, God is the same. Narrow is the way and few there be that find it. But for those who understand, ah, now you are getting somewhere.
December 15th, 2004 at 8:25 pm
I will expose my jazz weakness here. In college, I jammed with some guys who were more into jazz then I. Now, I don’t know if Chick Corea counts as jazz to your point, but I thought Chick and the boys were just playing bad chords on purpose to call it jazz. Honestly. I think a definition of talent would be helpful. Because an artist writes a song with mass appeal does not negate their talent. Is Boy George talented. Maybe vocally a bit. I don’t think that is your point though. My question is why study so hard only to communicate ideas to such a small audience. I would equate it to learning to speak Latin. Its really cool you could take the time to master it, but why? You can’t really converse with anyone.
December 16th, 2004 at 11:39 am
Good question but I look at it more like this. It’s all about the expression and creativity behind it. Jazz players have the experience and know the rules so they have earned the right to break them in their expression. Do I always “get it”? No but I don’t get a lot of the “higher” things. Should Carl Sagan stop writting because most of the general public doesn’t grasp the concepts he is exploring? Should reformed writers stop publishing because “Purpose Driven” fluff dominates the Christian subculture?
Try listening to Thelonius Monk some. He throws in some CRAZY chords but it really is quite appealing to the common man.
December 16th, 2004 at 12:29 pm
Actually, Carl Sagan should stop writing because he’s deceased.
December 16th, 2004 at 2:38 pm
LOL! I guess that would do it. Actually I was thinking of Stephen Hawking. Slight mix up.
December 16th, 2004 at 6:05 pm
On another note (get it?)…
I found this review of Blue Like Jazz on Amazon. Funny how they are offering it in a bundle with the book I am reading now, New Way To Be Human - a book touted as being “theologically sound.”
December 19th, 2004 at 7:38 pm
To Kevin:
Yes, I deinitely include Chick in my definition of jazz. Chick has clearly established himself as a player with unlimited chops, but more importantly, extraordinary range of expression. He has composed tunes that honor his Latin roots, had a very successful electric fusion ensemble, recorded in traditional acoustic trio settings, backed up Sarah Vaughan, played a strap on synth like an electric guitar, man, the guy has done everything and done it well. Heck, he played with the Foo Fighters live on the Grammies last year - that was far out!
The audience for a lot of higher expression is small. How many of your friends took time to go and pay good money to view the Matisse exhibition at the High? I would bet not many. Does that mean Matisse and those like him wasted or are wasting their time in trying to produce art at a more refined, challenging level? Every answer to that question has a lot of subjectivity to it, but for me, the answer is clearly no.
If you want to define talent, then I think you can make some fairly objective comparisons, as long as you are willing to apply a standard that measures the effort involved to produce what you do - for an artist in oil, it might mean the training, practice, repetition, etc., that allows them to master minute variations of pressure on a certain type of brush to produce certain images and even colors. Does someone that colors with crayons have the same “talent”? No, only a few are going to commit themselves to the discipline to reach the skill level of an artist like Rembrandt, so, yeah, that takes more talent.
Does a person lack talent who doesn’t play jazz? No, not at all. They just don’t possess it at the same level that a jazz player might. Does it make their expression less valuable? That can only be answered by the individual - and I don’t mean to say that those who like Boy George aren’t being satisfied by what he does (whatever that is). They are, they like it, hey that’s what makes the world go around. My larger point is that jazzers tend to look down on those who don’t see the world as they do it, and in that process, they develop a jaded, cynical view at times.
BTW, I think Chick plays some dissonant chords at times, but if you listen to his entire body of work, he is harmoncially more mainstream than not. When I was in college, studying music, I wrote him a letter and asked if he could give me lessons. He replied with a personal letter saying he didn’t have the time but offering me a lot of encouragement. That meant a lot then and still does. He is a cool guy, as a musicican and a person.
Thanks for your comments.
January 12th, 2005 at 11:49 pm
Regretfully, I am only blessed with a modicom of musical talent but enough perception to absolutely enjoy and actually “get” well played jazz. I likewise really enjoy and “get” well played blues,rock & roll,country,Himalayin folk songs…..just about any kind of well played music has validity to me(with the possible exception of “Gangsta” Rap and some Polka).Sometimes the pure “soul” of certain music simply speaks volumes to me over the measure of technique,”legitimate” skills,or hours of disciplined musical study. B.B.King often moves me more with one well placed,vibrato-laden note than the technically stunning,32nd note,Dorian mode flurry from Al DiMeola or Joe Pass. I guess that’s just part of the magic our Heavenly Father infused into music,one of the many,many gifts He gives us, His beloved creation!
January 27th, 2005 at 9:37 am
well, I came back to this site today and like the self-centered person I am checked my post and replies.
Expression and talent, skill and emotion. Which counts most? You can debate this until the cows come home (or wander over to the neighbor’s land and eat their corn), but where I come down on this is they are both qualities that reflect God’s work in individuals. Expression always moves us - worship music itself is usually simple, but it moves me to play it and listen to it. BB King moves me more than DiMeola, too, Al is a bit flashy, but he does have feeling in his playing, and the fact the he LOVES guitar so much that he has invested his entire life in mastering it, well, that to me is an indication of passion, albeit a different sort. See Pat Metheny. (of courese, I secretly believe Pat is an alien…..at any time, I expect him to peel off his skin, revealing a 5′ 9″ purple humanoid with six eyes, and asking me where he can get a Krispy Kreme…)
I happen to love bluegrass, played well. When you think of purity of expression, there is nothing that can be compared to Doc Watson’s voice. Nothing terribly complex there, or technical. But pristinely clear and transcendent.
So, it’s all good. Jazzers don’t always think so, my original point, and they would be wrong when they dis others who are not like them just BECAUSE they aren’t, but they have a valid position when they point out hypocrisy in worldly achievement, in my view. Is that statement hypocritical?
Maybe but I hope not…………..
January 12th, 2007 at 10:43 am
Hi!I’ve been playing piano for a while, but only started playing jazz and blues about a year ago. Currently, i’m trying to learn bebop improvisation. I know how to improvise in blues well, and my teacher already taught some of the theoretical aspects of bebop improv, like the chordscale theory and modes, but i was wondering if you knew any exercises that would make my improvising flow better and feel more natural.
Thanks a lot.
January 12th, 2007 at 11:09 am
I’m trying to decide if this is a real comment.
If yes, then I’m not a jazz player but I can ping Jeff for his input.
If no, then this a pretty smart spambot/method to get your web address out there.