WOW..... Didn't Expect such passionate and quick responses to a Lament i was experiencing after watching American Idol and America's next great band or whatever... it's great to know that there are great minds that Respect and know the value of GREAT ART.
the status of American Jazz Art. The Well.....as some have have already answered, it's still highly regarded in some areas, but I think I understand your fundamental question and will try to add a little clarity.
Jazz, for many years now, has had a "niche" market. It seems as though it's been relegated to almost a "cult" or sub-culture following - and that's a damn shame.
We should all recall that some of the by-products of Jazz i.e. swing and later bebop were considered mainstream music in America AND Europe in the 30's, 40's, and early 50's. Even as far back as the 20's, patrons of some of the big clubs in NYC and Chicago (in particular) sought out Jazz as their music of choice.
Benny Goodman, Ellington, Basie, the Dorsey's, and many others, provided music that was embraced by the "kids" in earlier generations because it was good dance music. the fans back then (which include my Mom & Dad) didn't sit and "analyze" the music for all it's complexity -but- simply enjoyed the sound/beat and danced the night away. Glenn Miller, although rather commercial by true Jazz standards of the time, was as popular in the 40's as Elvis was a decade or so later.
The "killer" regarding commercial jazz was Rock & Roll. Aside from being something new, and to some degree, a distant cousin to Jazz...R&R was a more viable commodity with regard to cost. That is, the economy of having a 4-piece "combo" replacing a 20+ man orchestra/band (in part) was embraced by club owners. This is at least a part of the puzzle to be sure.
Then, as jazz musicians, with a few notable exceptions, experienced virtual unemployment, the talent pool became thin, and Jazz was destroying itself from within.
To make matters worse, at least for all but the most sophisticated ear, along came "modern jazz."
Thelonius Monk, Miles, Coltraine, Ornette Coleman to name but a few, started playing far more complex and dissonant music that had no commercial value for the mainstream listener. Even Monk's fellow musicians weren't sure where his head was at. Miles continued to go berserk and even created "fusion" that left even some of his biggest fans shaking their heads (Bitches Brew?????)
Short answer...........~99% of the public listening audience couldn't begin to understand the movement, certainly couldn't dance to it, and........the rest is history. I'm not saying Jazz id dead - simply a restatement of it's current place in a tiny "niche market."
Perhaps (sadly) Jazz "commited suicide." At least from a commercial point of view. It appeals to the higher intellect: sorely lacking here It really depends on where you're from. Down South jazz is way more appreciated, same with big cities like New York. Personally I love jazz, and I'm American, so I like to try to find outlets for my passion. Don't know where you are, but I'm in the birhtplace of jazz, I hear it everyday, and I must say it is anything but disregarded here in N.O.
But as for other places, simply because people have lost touch with there roots, and have become consumed with today's music, forgetting about where it originated, and the shear beauty of that music. americans are too mainstream. They loose sight of the true expression of music. alot of what this society has become about is the NEW thing, not nesacerrily the best thing Jazz, though easy to listen to, is neither new or easy to play,
Having said that. Have a listen to a lot of the heavy metal songs, they use a lot of Jazz chord progressions in that music, I think Jazz is still appreciated, but for different reasons now This is news to me. Jazz is alive and well in my town, Chico, CA. There is live jazz every week at various fine restaurants and clubs in town. There are many good, performing, jazz musicians in town, many of whom teach, either at the university or in a local music store or in their homes. It's not...it's not popular music but it certainly is highly regarded...I know many people who aspire to be jazz musicians after college and jazz music is respected by just about everyone I know. Then again, I'm in the Boston area. I don't know if that's the case in other places.
PS: Miles Davis made jazz 'commit suicide'? Um........ It is not as big commercially as Pop or Rap or Rock etc. because its not a mindless, catchy, commercialized jingle. But it was born here and remains the one truly unique gift America has given the music world imo. You know its sad when you spend 16 years of your life training to play an instrument only to not have any where to play it.
Thats me in a nutshell. A lot of things people do these days dont require a lot of thought or time. Jazz requires both. Also the majority of music listeners, well the people who spend the most time listening to music, are young. And to be young in a America your kinda in a class system whether or not you want to be. There peers would probably put them down for listening to music other than what they like. This is how stupid we have become as a society. These people drive music sales, thus they are what is popular. I. E. mAINStraim.
I was lucky though, I came up in an era with great musicians around me, but sadly the reality is jazz is dead. Most of my jazz friends are doing church, hip-hop, and r&b gigs. I think that LELAND meant that higher intellect is sorely lacking here in America... Anyway, I think there are several valid reasons, but I think that the biggest culprit is greed. Jazz has become esoteric because media doesn't put it in front of the public; I don't think they think that they can make as much money off of it as Bling-bling Hip Hop and headache inducing Scream-O. I have to agree with you but it is disregarded not only in America but also around the world.
Jazz music is a bit more difficult to understand for the intellect. For those who understand, there is no other music. It touches your soul.
3 chords tunes will always be the easiest tunes to understand for the intellect.
Look at the beginning of the Beatles or a lot of country songs, simple and easy to understand.
I thank God everyday that listening to jazz gives me such a deep feeling.
As I write this answer I am listening to iTunes Dimensions in jazz, just great and free jazz.
What a wonderfull feeling! I think because people actually have to listen to a jazz piece to get the full effect. You listen at the specific sounds and complexities that jazz offers. I think its just too much work for young generations to comprehend how awesome jazz is musically. Young generations are to blinded by the catchy rhymes being put to a beat.
People ridicule me in my school because I'm 16 and listening to jazz. I just tell them...oh yea by the way jazz music is made with real instruments. Because Jazz is dead, or Americans are idiots. |
