Who is a fan of jazz music?...and why?

[kris]

I always ask myself when I have a jazz gig ... who listens to my jazz playing on the guitar?
Thanks
Kris

[Litterick]

Only you can tell us.

[kris]

Only you can tell us.

+1
It would be very difficult.
I would have to talk with the listeners after the concert.
But a good suggestion ...: who is the first time at a jazz concert?

[kris]

I do think musicians tend to listen to music differently, for better or worse.
The more experienced the musician in the genre, the more they can recognize the standout performances or performers, arrangements etc.

The average audience member may not be able to tell just how excellent the bass player is for instance, but they may tune into the sax player simply because that instrument stimulates their ear, even if the sax player is average.

Personally, I do not go to many live performances, but when I do I always compliment the musicians, even if they do not inspire me. The good word and positive encouragement can make a difference to those who may be living through an often overly fragile, yet necessary pursuit.

This is the truth so if the musicians are the public at jazz concerts.
What about not musicians?

[supersoul]

I agree that musicians and non-musicians usually listen differently, but I think non-musicians can listen as intently as musicians. Sometimes non-musicians can listen quite closely and notice things that a musician might miss, or they might have a different perception of the music.
Perhaps they can't recognize and name precise musical elements, but non-musicians can feel with the music is in the pocket, or when the music goes outside, or when a solo tells a good story. Everyone knows when music moves them and when it doesn't.

[mr. beaumont]

I decided to like jazz way back in high school because nobody else did. Then life played one of it's practical jokes, I ended up loving jazz.

I would think a large population of jazz listeners are musicians. It only makes sense that people who have put some time into an instrument would appreciate what it takes to play jazz at a high level.

At jazz clubs, I think you get a mix of people....actual jazz fans, and people who like the idea of going to a jazz club. Of course, one of the best ways to get someone in to jazz who thinks they don't like it is to take them to a live performance.

[pamosmusic]

I've never been to a *good* jazz performance and had someone not like it.

That doesn't mean they're going to seek it out, of course. But good live music is really good and people enjoy it.

If it's not good live music, you don't get bonus points for it being harder to play at a baseline level, or for it being high brow or culturally important or whatever.

[kris]

Hello. I became aware of and started listening to jazz through Elmore James, The Grateful Dead, and The Allman Brothers Band’s influence. I am not a fan of all jazz, but rather a fan of a good jam/improvised music, the art of making music “swing”, and “outside” playing washed in the blues of course.

Here is a clip you may appreciate @kris. My favorite band playing with your favorite jazz guitarist John Scofield. The music/recordings that Sco has done with the bands Gov’t Mule and Medeski,Martin,and Wood are also very much worth checking out.

+1
I love Scofield and I love blues.

[pamosmusic]

Hello. I became aware of and started listening to jazz through Elmore James, The Grateful Dead, and The Allman Brothers Band’s influence. I am not a fan of all jazz, but rather a fan of a good jam/improvised music, the art of making music “swing”, and “outside” playing washed in the blues of course.

Here is a clip you may appreciate @kris. My favorite band playing with your favorite jazz guitarist John Scofield. The music/recordings that Sco has done with the bands Gov’t Mule and Medeski,Martin,and Wood are also very much worth checking out.

Me too ... I remember having just gotten into Derek Trucks Band and then getting a Medeski Martin and Wood disc and Scofield on it and I was like ... wtf is this.

Right about that time my guitar teacher was getting me into a bunch of theory stuff and I got it fairly quickly and he was like "hey you might like jazz." I think just because I got the theory stuff, which is maybe misguided. But also he was not wrong.

[kris]

I am a jazz musician for a long time.
Let's say I already know a small amount of jazz music language.
I often approach jazz music analytically.
I know that jazz has its specific atmosphere and it is emotional music.
I often give up and I just listen.
Does everyone feel like that?

[jameslovestal]

95% of the music I listen to, and play is jazz.

It all started with Blow by Blow. Also, a jazz guitarist, who was talking lessons from Jimmy Wyble moved into our house. He played Body Talk by Benson, and it was jazz from there on (I sold or gave away all of my rock albums).

[pauln]

Maybe the first question should be...
Who is a fan of music? ...and why?

[kris]

Maybe the first question should be...
Who is a fan of music? ...and why?

I wanted to limit myself to jazz music.
Jazz is the music I play and love.

[Litterick]

Jazz fans come from all walks of life, drawn to its unique blend of improvisation, rhythm, and rich musical history. They appreciate the spontaneity, emotional depth, and the opportunity to discover new musical landscapes.

Gemini told me so.

[kris]

I have several friends who are real jazz fans and have a huge amount of jazz albums.
They have jazz albums and they really listen to them.

[lammie200]

I didn't pick jazz as much as it picked me. I am wired to like the types of challenges that jazz music poses. I have tried the folk/campfire thing and the rock thing. Those genres are great for me to listen to and I admire musicians that go those routes. But I don't see the same kind of beauty when I play them as I do jazz. Not to say that I play beautiful jazz, but I definitely do not play beautiful folk music. I can nail the rock thing, but keeping that up for an entire rock gig would make me want to jump.

[jameslovestal]

Interesting article in the Los Angeles Times about trumpeter-composer Theo Croker titled "Blowing past the rules of jazz".

For me it has a lot of red-herring \ strawman points which have been topics of discussion at this forum.

E.g. "rules of jazz". Jazz has "rules"? "if you must category his music, then Croker is a true jazz artist. However, as a citizen of the world, Croker has a very different definition of jazz than the standard American interpretation". There is a "standard American interpretation"?

From Croker: "Jazz, or the music I make is much more open-minded because the other places I go and spend a lot of time and play music, jazz is a very broad term and generally just means Black music". He goes on to define this so-called "standard American" definition by mocking it as "Oh, if its not purist, it not jazz" (but never defines purist)".

It appears from the article that since Croker plays pop music (E.g. a Michael Jackson or Stevie Wonder song), that makes his music not "pure" jazz.

Now if this article was written 50 years ago, he might have a point, but as we have discussed at this forum, few here still have that very old-school "purist" definition of jazz.

[JazzPadd]

I'm not sure "fan" is the right word to describe my relationship with jazz. I love jazz, particularly the traditional type ("standards"), but it's not as a consumer of music made by others. For me, jazz is social music, it's primarily participatory. I'm fortunate, I guess, for being part of a local scene of similar minded jazz lovers who play for the pleasure of it. Some of the people in the scene do local performances and I have done a few, too, but it's the spontaneous, regularly occurring jam sessions that are most interesting to me. For those I am a big "fan," and go as often as I can. Each venue and each jam is different, and only the unexpected can be expected. I do, however listen to some jazz, but it's mainly to prep for the jam sessions. So, if a tune I don't know gets called and I enjoy it, I'll listen to maybe 10 random versions by different players from different levels, eras, etc. to get some idea of what has be done with it, and then apply that to learning the tune well enough to play it the next jam, sometimes even calling unfamiliar tunes.

[KRosser]

I didn't pick jazz as much as it picked me.

Wow, do I sure relate to that...

[Jimmy blue note]

People, all people react to something that moves them. I think a lot of people can hear dedication and mastery if the sound is good. The old adage: "Your sound is getting boring, get a new pedal". I do think people in general can be moved by a good arc they can follow, and if you take them on a journey and bring them home, it's love for the music.
But jazz is one of those musics that can reward the players and musicians (sometimes more than the casual listener) because it has an element of creative content. I mean it appeals to the ears that can appreciate the craft in a great idea, and not necessarily just the impact of a good sound.

Just from my own experience, there's a difference between listening and hearing. With a lot of music, it's exciting to listen to something familiar, but with jazz it can be really rewarding to hear something being created. I think that's why so much jazz is attended by guys, and players/students who have the tools of deep engagement.

If you have a good sound and a good sound system, and some cool effects, you might find a wider audience. Violin player in a subway? Meh. Fiddle player with a digital delay? YEAH!!!

[Litterick]

Classic FM: Opera and jazz fans among ‘happiest’ of music genres, study finds (2021)

For the study, two million Reddit comments from the subreddits of 27 different music genres were analysed, and the team calculated the number of times positive or happy expressions were mentioned.

Jazz lovers were found to be happier than any other genre – twice as happy as pop fans, in fact. Within the r/jazz subreddit, the study found 77 positive words mentioned for every 100 comments on average.

The second happiest fans are those of metal (62 positive statements per 100 comments), with opera lovers in third place (56 per 100).

[Django Johnson]

I am a fan of many different musical genres. Jazz just happens to be one of them. Why? Because I like good music.

[Groyniad]

hey Kris - well done for starting such a general thread on such a deep and difficult topic...

i grew up (12-17 yrs) playing bach sonatas on flute (not just bach - obviously - but he loomed large)

when i was 22 someone played me a Bud Powell with Sonny Rollins and Fats Navarro record - and then Bill Evan's 'Portrait in Jazz'

About a month later I heard a bunch of Bird's ballad recordings - and that was that.

I've been trying to learn how to do what these guys do ever since. I suppose it struck me as even more compelling than Bach - and the idea that they were improvising just transformed my whole conception of music

I'm still working hard at it - I do 'language' work (transcription of solos etc) and repertoire work - arranging standards. I've done lots of performance - but not for ages now.

I recently heard a Sonny Rollins interview in which he was emphatic that you don't go into jazz because you want to be 'successful' but because you just can't help it - it leaves you no choice. I'm still thrilled with it all - still can't get over how hip Bird and Bill Evans, But Powell, Sonny Rollins, Kenny Drew, Red Garland, Paul Chambers ....are. I'd be lost without it.

[digger]

I, too, love many genres, one of which is jazz.

I know I'd be a better (or more focused) musician if I didn't also play in the other genres that I enjoy (finger-picking, flat-picking), but then I'd be a better rhythm guitar player if I quit trying to play solos, so one can keep stripping back areas of playing in order to get better at just one.

Playing-wise, I started learning the clarinet at age eight and the guitar at age thirteen (when I gave up the clarinet for fifty years). I think jazz came along pretty early - Johnny Hodges was my first jazz love, followed by Django and Roland Kirk and Zoot Sims and Horace Silver. But finger-picking came along about the same time and I think my ears were more attuned to those simple harmonies and my fingers didn't have to move so fast, so I spent a lot of time there.

These days I listen to mostly jazz or classical music. Jazzwise, I enjoy early swing and early 60s hard bop, most, but not to the exclusion of other stuff, just a preference.

I don't gig much these days, but over the years I've much preferred playing to non-musician audiences because I could get away with sticking pretty close to the melody and it still went down well :-)

[RyanM]

No one except jazz musicians