1. Home
  2. misc-audio
  3. 165373-141771

Jazz listening: Is it about the music? Or is it about the sound?

The thread title says it all. I can listen to jazz recordings for hours on end but can scarcely name a dozen tunes.  My jazz collection is small but still growing.  Most recordings sound great.  On the other hand, I have a substantial rock, pop and country collection and like most of us, have a near encyclopedic knowledge of it.  Yet sound quality is all over the map to the point that many titles have become nearly unlistenable on my best system.  Which leads me back to my question: Is it the sound or the music?  Maybe it’s both. You’ve just got to have one or the other!
jdmccall56
mroeturner
17 posts
 
I listen to a lot of jazz, especially swing, bebop and hard bop. Because many of these recordings were made in the 40’s-50’s, in medium quality studios, the sonic quality is “ok”, but not something you’d listen to because of the sound quality. For example I was listening to Miles Davis’ “Sketches of Spain” a few days ago on vinyl, and was thinking “wonderful music, what an awful recording”. But it’s kind of all over the place. Most Monk stuff is not well recorded, but most Ahmad Jamal is. 
sokogear
1,162 posts
 
I remember jazz mainly by album. There are so many combos of this guy playing with that guy or that quartet or quintet. I like the classic bebop or hard bop more that the fusion/funk/modern whatever you want to call it. Although there are some that defy categorization.

I almost never listen to an album just because it sounds good or is renowned. If I don't like it (A Love Supreme for example or Birth of the Cool) I don't like it. Sorry. Not into big bands. But I am not a fan of just one instrument being played.

Of course there are songs whose titles stand out on my favorite jazz albums but not nearly like rock and pop stuff. 
danvignau's avatar
danvignau
935 posts
 
I am the opposite, but learned about rock from my XM radio display.  Yes, I know, you have better sources.  So do I, but the jazz selection is awesome, and the info, especially for jazz, is educational.  The Polk costs about $50.00 on eBay, and service is $60 for the first year.
jyprez's avatar
jyprez
241 posts
 
Interesting that people for whom it really IS about the music - namely professional musicians. Rarely have very sophisticated audio systems. Even when they can afford it
chefscg
8 posts
 
Jazz is a music you listen with your soul. I have been equally moved by listening on great systems, not so great systems and live performances.  After 50 plus years and hundreds of listens to A Love Supreme, Kind Of Blue and many other classic recordings from many great players. They are still a fresh spiritual experience every time I hear them.  Every single note John Coltrane played deserves complete attention he is sharing his soul and his gift from God with us. 
IMHO


That’s how I listen to Jazz

Peace
Stevr
More to discover