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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
djohnson54
396 posts
 
"We don't need no stinkin Wikipedia", they're going all the way back to slaves dancing in Congo square in New Orleans; our jazz doesn't go back that far.

The only reason "our" jazz doesn't go back that far is because there was nothing to record it on back then. If there had been, someone would still be listening to it and calling it jazz.
frogman
7,352 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.
hakuchosan
39 posts
 
few samples of good jazz........
yes, its from Poland - is this jazz too?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe4M6pKEKMQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bM5TwR7L0U&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kE1zGXaQNg&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL99F28FC6EA5BE83D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-5q_pI7EJ4&feature=fvwrel

and Japanese jazz:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEd5OvNyPs8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w9WsLW6xLc&feature=related
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,227 posts
 
Hi Frogman,
It`s hard to say, in my experince with most jazz musicians I happen to know most of them cite Charlie Parker. A moot point really as they`re both and others are so worthy. Like I said I love and truly respect them all.
Regards,
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

While we might not be able to define jazz to everyone's satisfaction, we know it when we heat it. Today, there is a jazz resurgence going on in many foreign countries, and I find it most interesting when they blend elements of their music with American Jazz.

Currently, India has a jazz craze going on, and a group named "Bengal and Beyond" has attracted my attention. "Sharmilla Guha" is the vocalist in the group, and her "scat singing" on Horace Silver's "Calcutta Cutie" is fantastic.

Thanks to "Youtube", I give you "Calcutta Cutie"; by "Bengal And Beyond"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WvQ7BMws1M
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