Bad jazz isn't difficult to find. It's often perpetrated by technically proficient musicians. I took in a loathsome gig a week or two ago. The band's song selection was impeccable. Almost every note was perfectly played. And I was bored to tears. I felt as if I was watching an academic instructional video. The musicians' intentions were good but the result was laughably bland. I'd rather listen to a tone-deaf teen sing along to Taylor Swift than hear antiseptic jazz. At least the fan of the pop star would invest some emotion into her effort.
("Sorta Kinda" image by Plastic Sax.)
15 comments:
pbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbt
P.B.T.? No.
Who? Go out in a limb.
I'm not going to do that to these nice guys, Anon. But as I suggest, their sensibility is not uncommon.
which came first? the chicken or the egg?
What's the matter? Swing too much? Not enough multimedia for you? Don't play sloppy and work with little tin drums? Don't have a dancer or little hats to wear? You're slippin' Bill. Been reading too much Nick Payton's crap. Hate to tell you, most of the shit being played in this poor town has got boring written all over it. Watched and listened to some of your "J" word picks of the year... let's talk boring. Garage band bullshit. My opinion, that's all.
As for Anonymous asking if it was PBT? Let's chalk that comment up to musical ignorance.
Instead of asking for a "Disney on Ice" experience of self gratifying "jazz" that you find playing at your weekly gigs in KC to keep you visually entertained, how about remembering the music comes first. I admire the cats in this town that DO remember that. Oh, and I've seen you close your eyes at gigs and concentrate on the music.
Ohh snnnnaaapppppp!
Bird was impeccable. So was Mike Brecker, Joe Henderson and Lee Morgan and so is Kenny Garret.
These guys have command of the language and there are no holes in their playing.
What is your definition of bad jazz?
I guess we will never know who this mysterious group is.
The mystery musicians I refer to in this post possess "command of the language" and have "no holes in their playing." But unlike the examples you cite, Raul- Bird, Brecker, Henderson, Morgan and Garrett- their playing struck me as sterile. That's my definition of bad jazz- music without soul.
It's no secret what I like in "jazz." Here are my Top Ten Albums and Concerts of 2011 and 2010. According to Be-Bop, some of it's "garage band bullish*t." If he says so- but I like what I like.
I also like the taste of Be-Bop's Haterade. It's funny, smart and just a little creepy.
"I also like the taste of Be-Bop's Haterade. It's funny, smart and just a little creepy."
Thanks Bill. Appreciate the compliment.
well, i guess it's fortunate for me that as a listener i'm too stupid or ignorant to know if a jazz performance is "sterile and boring." if i had that much musical knowledge to know the difference - and brag about it - i'd have to shoot myself.
**jazzhands wave bye-bye**
Bram. Wijnands.
The artist(s) in question is not Bram Wijnands. But if you guys keep guessing you'll eventually be correct, so in order to protect the identity of the musician(s), I'm not going to confirm or deny the accuracy of future queries.
Oops, the reference to Bram was meant to be to some of the above comments. He is one of, if not THE, most fun artist to watch and listen to in Kansas City with his coexistent virtuosity and playfulness!
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