Who is your favorite Jazz musician and what is your favorite song?

[Hornbein]

In the 1930's jazz was a big deal in east Asia. I went to a museum in Malaysia that had jazz era 78s. It's still popular in Japan. The stars usually have a jazz number in their live set.



There are a number of big bands and there are still jazz hit songs.

 

[symbolipoint]

Still seeing the topic question as I visit the forum from day to day. Me, I do not like Jazz. But in contrast to this not liking Jazz, there are a few pieces accepted into Jazz which I find interesting, and even enjoyable to hear.

Consider something like the piece of music, "Canadian Sunset". Is this or is this not part of Jazz? "Moon River"? Jazz or not?

 

[Hornbein]

Still seeing the topic question as I visit the forum from day to day. Me, I do not like Jazz. But in contrast to this not liking Jazz, there are a few pieces accepted into Jazz which I find interesting, and even enjoyable to hear.

Consider something like the piece of music, "Canadian Sunset". Is this or is this not part of Jazz? "Moon River"? Jazz or not?

"Jazz" is one of those many words that hasn't got an agreed upon definition. Is Kenny G jazz? I don't worry about that. Here's my view for what it's worth. It's used to describe three movements that haven't got that much to do with one another. There's the original Dixie, swing jazz, then modern jazz. IMO modern jazz has more to do with Ravel and Debussy than Duke Ellington. Jazz was as its most popular during the swing era of the 1930's. Since it was most popular then, I go retro and say that that is the the "real" jazz. Big bands rule. It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing. Your mileage may vary.

Complicating the situation is that back in those days there wasn't much of a boundary between pop music and jazz. (My mother said the word "jazz" was unknown to her. They called it "Glenn Miller music.") It was very common to have a jazz version of a popular tune from a movie like Moon River. They weren't all that different except pop had strings while jazz relied on Adolph Sax's saxophone, and jazz was dance music so it had trap drums and a stronger beat.



Jazz lives on in Japan. There are jazz versions of popular tunes, hit songs, and so forth. This isn't done in the USA partly because the harmony and melody has grown so simple. You can't do a jazz version of rap. Also US jazz musicians won't accept anything newer than 1972. So the form doesn't grow anymore. You hear it on NPR from Sunday midnight to six am. That's it.

 

[symbolipoint]

Hornbein, amazing discussion post #33.

We should not fuss about classifications of pieces as Jazz or not, or within Jazz (but sometimes we still do). Much more important is the subjective meaning & feel of the piece of music.

 

[Hornbein]

Paul Desmond : "they say my music sounds like a dry martini. I thought it was more like three dry martinis."

 

[pinball1970]

Paul Desmond : "they say my music sounds like a dry martini. I thought it was more like three dry martinis."

Beautiful

 

[pinball1970]

Once reason jazz and Classical are so great is they feature beautiful sounds of all the different instruments.

Does not all music do that?

Well yes and no, in rock music (which I like) you are a little restricted, guitar/distorted guitar, organ but not always.

Same with the other styles but in classical you can do what the hell you want, a piano piece? You have it.

Just Cello? Yes, Just voices? Full orchestra? Organ its all there.

Same with Jazz, this one is a flute piece but there is a cool as hell electric piano solo.

 

[symbolipoint]

Once reason jazz and Classical are so great is they feature beautiful sounds of all the different instruments.

Does not all music do that?

Change "all" to "many" or to "several", and then it's good.

 

[pinball1970]

Change "all" to "many" or to "several", and then it's good.

Which sentence? Both?

 

[pinball1970]

When rock meets classical meets jazz.

 

[Hornbein]

Once reason jazz and Classical are so great is they feature beautiful sounds of all the different instruments.

Does not all music do that?

Well yes and no, in rock music (which I like) you are a little restricted, guitar/distorted guitar, organ but not always.

Same with the other styles but in classical you can do what the hell you want, a piano piece? You have it.

Just Cello? Yes, Just voices? Full orchestra? Organ its all there.

Same with Jazz, this one is a flute piece but there is a cool as hell electric piano solo.

The Fender/Rhodes piano might be the only new instrument to catch on in the 20th century. It's more like an electric celeste. The celeste never really made it, but will be kept around forever to play The Nutcracker. Kind of like Christmas cookies.

 

[symbolipoint]

Which sentence? Both?

Choose whichever you like best.

 

[Hornbein]

 

[pinball1970]

I liked what I posted, I thought it was pithy.

Ok I will put it like this. There is a lot more versatility and virtuoso technique in jazz and classical than other genres.
Where you get great musicianship in rock and prog you will find strong classical/ jazz connection/ back ground.

More so in piano/organ and Guitar than the other instruments.
In my opinion. @symbolipoint

 

[BWV]

Speaking of virtuoso keyboard and pedal chops, DOMi is a monster

 

[BWV]

An analysis of DOMi and JD Beck, the hottest new jazz act these days

 

[pinball1970]

Focus. Love remembered.

 

[Hornbein]

I think Patrick Bartley plays great alto sax here.

 

[BWV]

 

[morrobay]

 

[morrobay]

 

[Hornbein]

​

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I love Fats Waller

 

[BWV]

 

[pinball1970]

These guys did birdland too.

 

[pinball1970]

Hoping the live version will play.

 

[pinball1970]

This girl was special.

 

[pinball1970]

That is nuts! I think if you can play that you can probably play anything.

 

[pinball1970]

Finally found out what that piece is!

 

[pinball1970]

The 60s/70s used good music for TV. This is how we learned what jazz was!