Why Doesn't Contemporary Jazz Get Any Respect?

Pbb. No ECM stuff in a long time? What can you mean? Charles LLoyd, Dave Holland (and more)... challenging and loveable. Charles Lloyd brings tears to my eyes.

Sincerely, I remain

Marakantz (how's the poetry coming): the Methany - Charlie Haden effort, under the Missouri Sky ,is listenable too, but somehow I do not like to think of it as "smooth jazz." Call me an elitist - Maybe I need a shrink. Where is Detlof when you need him.

What the hell is the Methany/Haden cd anyway? Marian McPartland has an advertisement for her show where she has 3 or 4 tunes play, all completely different, and she simply asks "is this jazz" after each tune. Very effective and makes a point. Me thinks we are not going to solve the issue here.

Sincerely, I remain

Sc53, I fear that you are only one Lp short of neurosis. No one is going to come to a conclusion anytime soon. Personally, I think if you are on a journey down the ECM road that is very good indeed. Remember that the journey is where it is at and the conclusion is .... well... the end of the road.

Sincerely, I remain

ya Detlof those times are gone and they were short too! You mention Monk, Coltrane, Armstrong, Davis, Ellington, Bley, Hodges, Bechet and Parker. Where are the likes of those now? If you take Bley out of the list they were all born within a generation (Bechet is a bit early at 1897 and Coltrane and Davis bring an end to it in 1926). Like watching a flower bloom or some other miracle. But doesn't this happen all the time? One generation plows the field and several others spend their time weeding and seeding there until well... it's fallow.

That being said I admit I listen to some of the weeders with some real respect. After all .. not everyone can be an Einstein, Edison , or Freud...right.

Maybe we can use your comment as a new thread. Was it "mindless bickering" or "required reading"? (we've had both responses).

But lets all be careful,

"Once you ignorance is gone you can never get it back"
Carla Bley

Sincerely, I remain

Rupertdacat, I don't know what Chuck Berry said but I can tell you from personal experience that it is futile and sometimes dangerous to try to duck walk to Coltrane.

Sincerely, I remain

Marakanetz: Keith Richards is a great R&R rhythm player but he ain't Joe Pass and could not make it two measures into a typical jazz score (whole notes aside). All due respect to Chuck Berry. I think Chuck was trying to rub up a little. I once heard Richards say that he made more money off Muddy Waters than any man on earth and I tend to agree. More power to him.

Sincerely, I remain

Nice post Lngbruno. Best if we are slow to label good performers like some listed above (Frisell, Brecker, Metheny ect). Really hate to label Joe Pass other than as great. I second the idea to listen to Joe and suggest his "Virtuoso" album. Its a series - get the first Lp/Cd in the series.

Sincerely, I remain