Jazz Music - People who Listen to it ?

Is it true that jazz music attracts to people of higher intelligence? If so, why is this the case?

Yea, these days I would say so. It seems as if people have lost the appreciation of music as it has turned into a business. People who take the time to actively absorb something - rather than passively; truly enjoy their music. They understand the hearsay of jazz and take on the mission of attempting to figure it out (a mission in which millions have sought, but never accomplished). You get into certain era's and shy away others. I have never met a stupid person that liked jazz. I know plenty of pretentious jerks that like it, but at least seem to have some kind of knowledge of the world. It has an eclectic zing to it, and it amazes me. You begin to have a favorite player of each instrument. It's also great because there is so much of it, you can never really cover it. I love Monk, and he is popular, but I'm not even close to attaining all of his work. I also like that it makes me feel like an idiot because so many people know soooo much about it. It keeps you in-check. I really enjoy it, especially purchasing some quality vinyl. Enjoy, I can add some stuff that I'm into if you are interested.

I listen to jazz music but i don't consider myself as being highly intelligence. But i guess jazz music appeals to higher intelligence people because the music is calming. It helps them relax perhaps

Absolutely false!! Your I.Q. has nothing to do with what your ears and soul appreciate. I do not like all jazz forms. But , as well as jazz, I like reggae, blues, old school r&b, good old rock like Janis Joplin , Jimi Hendrix etc. Lots of music, some music 'snobs', may and I emphasize may, turn their noses up at.
Intelligence , in my opinion, has nothing to do with what moves you!
Last I knew music was supposed to be a unifier,not a divider.
But , I am 51, and am a product of the 60's ; ) so I guess that says a lot!

Jazz music is very sophisticated because usually in order to appreciate it properly you must know about how complex it really is.

For those that listen to music for intellectual puposes, jazz can be very appealing because it is complex and has endless possibilities.

For those that just want to groove, any music (including jazz) will do.

So yes, on average I would say that jazz does attract people of higher intelligence.

I would say that jazz appeals to people who have a knack for absorbing concepts, and people who are patient. Does that mean intelligent? No, but a lot of intelligent people DO enjoy absorbing things and have patience.

Nope. I'm the first to admit I'm not the brightest, and I love jazz(and play it) .
I think its more a case of what you feel thanwhat you know.
We do get a lot of poser-would-be-intellectual types in our jazz bar though, but most of the actual players are just ordinary guys who just love playing.
And obviously- the word jazz covers a wide field. People are gonna use more intellect listening to Anthony Braxton and jump around more listening to the Dirty Dozen. That doesnt mean you have to be smart or dumb to like either end of the spectrum

For me, great jazz music tells the truth. When a musician plays from the heart, with unlimited technical ability, it is very possible for the musician to experience that truth and, somehow, let it flow through their body and out into their instrument.
For the listener, they don't have to be intelligent (in a typical sense). The best mind a listener can have is totally empty/quiet. It shouldn't matter what "type" of music it is, or if its sophisticated or not. What matters is where the musicians were "at" when they experienced it (recorded it), where they were coming from.

On the other hand, most other music (pop, rock, rap,...) is made by people who are not interested in truth at all. The main goal is to have a hit record. This is done by repeating, but slightly altering, what has already done well in the market. This music has a great HOOK. It is easy for your brain to listen to and repeat. Its good mental publicity for the music. Some people walk around singing the same song all day, not because they like it, but because they think they like it. Its the hook. Its just sounds to keep a mind from being empty/quiet.

Regarding "intelligence", intelligence comes from within. great jazz comes from within, not necessarily from "knowing", often intelligence is to abstract to be known or described. Jazz is the bridge.

I do not know about intelligence in terms of your I.Q. but you have to have a pretty good attention span to really appreciate jazz. In todays music, the "image" is more important than the music itself.

When people like Paris Hilton can create a record, you know that the music scene is severly lacking.The complexity of jazz allows for any possibility of sound that you can think of.

So perhaps jazz music might attract people who appreciate true culture?

it's possible. you know, these days songs are so simple... singers don't have voices, melody is replaced by the beat in principle... jazz songs are totally different. maybe it creates some difficulties listening to such varied music for ordinary listeners.

i listen to jazz simpley because i love it and it calmes my mind, helps me go to sleep when i want to and it soothes the soul!

This is social / economic stereotyping. I think "cultured" people listen to all genres. But they seem to prefer classical and certain forms of jazz. Personally I love blues, jazz, classic rock, Christian contemporary, some country, R&B.

This ties in directly to another current question about Jazz's lack of widespread popularity.

Music is audible emotion. Most other genres express this emotion primarily via words, through the greatest instrument-the human voice. Jazz on the other hand, while often extremely emotional, conveys that emotion through other instruments. I don't think jazz fans are necessarily any more intelligent (attending any modern jazz fest will put the lie to that myth pretty quickly), but they may have a heightened ability to perceive the emotional content of a wordless form, therby allowing them to appreciate a music that many others do not.

Interestingly, the last widespread popularity of Jazz was during the big band era, and the subsequent jump blues era, both of which were vocal forms.