Pimpin' the "J" word

Yeah that "j" word.
Everywhere we turn there are "jazz" festivals being advertised in well known media locales.
It seems that now a days there are hundreds of Jazz festivals every month;
but don't be fooled.
Very few of these festivals have what most of us would consider anything resembling Jazz.
Yes, its just a word: but that word is used to justify all sorts of reasons not to play real Jazz music;
and yet- to call every festival a Jazz festival.

Not only that, but when are we going to redefine what the word "mainstream" really means.
All of these "terms" that the industry uses are just jargon to justify doing what they have always done.
"sell quick"
"sell in volume"
Just as long as it can
"sell ".

Go ahead, make my day!

Earlier today I was in the post office to mail some cd's for our upcoming European radio campaign.
One of the nice post office workers was helping me pack my cds up and asked what kind of music I was sending out.
When I told her it was Jazz, she said, "I love Jazz, I'll take one, how much?" and immediately put a smile on my face and some money in my pocket, which of course I had to turn around and give her back for postage.
The more important point here though, is how many folks out there really do love Jazz? I'd put my money on the fact that its a hell of a lot more than purchase the mere 1% of market share that Jazz makes up.
So, here's to hoping more folks make my day and come out of the "jazz lovers" closet.

Why Jazz is truly America's Music

We know that for years Jazz has been referred to overseas as America's Music, but why?
For years, Jazz has been the voice of america: Its been the music that we tout to other cultures as representing us or U.S.

We have developed other music here in America, so what makes Jazz special, and how does it truly reflect our values and culture?

Our country's core value is Freedom. Freedom to speak and criticize, Freedom to express, and Freedom to make your own choices.

Freedom is essential in any music that contains improvisation as a primary element like Jazz.
However, just like in our country freedom does have some limits.
One must adhere to our country's laws, often for the benefit of all; Jazz has similar restrictions like form and harmony that must be dealt with- but the amount of choices you can make within those forms is enormous.

But Jazz also contains elements which other improvisational music does not. The most important of those is what we call 'swing'.
Swing reflects the heartbeat of our nation better than any other rhythm.
The true feeling of swing comes from the polyrhythmic feel of cultures fused together just like our country.

When you hear Bossa Nova you immediately think Brazil.
Ska, Soca, Polka all are immediately associated with their countries of origin.


When you hear, real hard swing you think...

America

Colors Colors and more Colors

As referred to in our earlier post about Synaesthesia, (yeesh, hard word to say)
we composers often look at sounds in terms of colors.

While the concept maybe old, no one seems to be able to agree on a specific set of colors/key correspondence.
We thought we'd add our unsubstantiated, but educated notions.

Yellow at the top would correspond to C major- Brightest of all keys(no sharps, flats etc.)
Violet at the bottom (complementary color) - is Gb Major- Darkest of all keys.

We'll be back with more... have to keep you on the edge of your seats.

The Future of Jazz? (and classical too, shhh)

Okay Okay- before everyone or no one goes off on this, lets start with this:

There are really TWO interconnected sides to the future of Jazz. There is of course, the business side of it; which we know everyone in the music industry is trying to figure out now, not just us Jazz musicians.

But, at least of equal importance is the artistic side, the musical side. Certainly trends in the business side greatly influence the artistic side, but does it work the other way?

As musicians, we have become increasingly reactionary to other types of popular musics. Sometimes we copy parts of them, but we always do it with the air of one-ups-manship.
In our minds, we know that because we are better trained musicians, we can automatically do it better. Or we tend to go the other way- include no elements of the things that make other music 'popular'.

Unfortunately, as you may have guessed, neither approach seems to be beneficial to the music itself.

One of the great things that makes other music popular is that it often still contains an element of Melody- something modern Erudite Jazz and Classical musicians have often forgotten.
Secondly, and this is specifically a criticism of modern classical music; it has an element of GROOVE.
Third- there is often times an element of ethnic folk musics, hey, we have a World full of em.

While, good Jazz can never lose the things that make it great, rhythm, hard swing, etc.
Hopefully, at some point, we can begin to embrace these elements which many of us currently shun, and keep moving the music forward. There are still places to go, and countries undiscovered.
But, don't wait for most industry folks to point the way, they're too busy waiting for their next new 'Savior' of music.

The Demise of IAJE (International Assoc. Of Jazz Educators)

The shocking news that the International Association of Jazz Educators; a long standing institution in the world of Jazz, came to a quick close today.
While many members including ourselves are indeed surprised and saddened by the news, it should come as no surprise that another Jazz institution has fallen by the wayside.

Jazz, America's music, was once known as the music of freedom to be heard around the world- it was in fact Voice of Americas musical choice to represent American ideals worldwide. Today many of us have forgotten how powerful this great music is; and in part the Jazz world itself must accept part of the blame.

Instead of reaching out to new markets with real original Jazz music, we have stagnated and tried to water Jazz music down by creating "crossovers" into just about every genre. While Jazz has a rich history of being able to adopt new sounds, it will not remain in the public consciousness without touting its own strong unique voice- and sound.

The Hang - Where is the Arts community today?

We often hear stories from older musicians and artist friends about the 'hang'. Back in the 70's it seems that all kinds of artists would hang out together all the time.
If you were a modern painter you knew of all of the folks in the Jazz scene, and vice versa. There was a true community of artists sharing social, artistic and personal ideas.

Didn't Harlem have great painters and musicians and writers and philosophers together?

What about today...
Where do all of these artists hang out? Not in college.

The internet is certainly one place, but where are all of the important discussions on social and artistic thought?
Sure we can go to lectures but thats not always discussion.
Sure we can go to concerts and art openings but where are the elements of sharing ideas?

We need to go back to discovering a place for the exchange of artistic thought- without being afraid of PCness.