response 50 of 115:

Aug 31 23:23 UTC 1997

I've heard wonderful things about them from friends, mostly, who are big fans,
and it'd be nice to see what the fuss is about.

response 52 of 115:

Sep 1 15:10 UTC 1997

I'm trying, I'm trying.  I've still got a few non-geek holdouts, though, that
I'm working on.

response 54 of 115:

Sep 12 22:14 UTC 1997

'Fraid not, Mark.  I would have loved to, but...

response 56 of 115:

Sep 13 05:47 UTC 1997

If ya don't like jazz, why bother reading this item?  I wonder if people are
turned off by jazz for its nebulous expression, especially considering
freeform is all the rage now..or maybe it's because of the purist movement.
Twila, do you dislike Jamiraqui (sp?)?

response 58 of 115:

Sep 14 18:41 UTC 1997

Thanks, Mark! 

Seriously, I read this itme because I like *hearing* and learning
about music, and I always hope I'll find a clue to someone that I
would like. I don't know who Jamiraqui is -- could you tell me
more? 

Most of what I dislike about jazz has to do with my impatience with
long extended instrumental passages -- I am seriously biased in 
favor of voice in my musical tastes although I have learned to 
enjoy classical music and some soundtrack-type recordings. But they
seem to have a structure to them that Idon't hear in jazz...Or
is that another prejudice? 

response 60 of 115:

Sep 15 05:59 UTC 1997

My main problem with jazz is that though it was invented in the same century
as, say, rock and roll, it's being shoved down my throat as more legitimate
and "educated" to listen to, while rock is some sort of passing fancy.  Still.
Why can't I be musically deepened by listening to rock?

response 62 of 115:

Sep 15 17:17 UTC 1997

Orinoco, I have similar prefrences. A wonderful example would be Miles' _Kind
of Blue_. I have mixed feelings about bebop. I have an utmost respect for the
form and the artists, such as Parker and Gillespie, but its too quick and
frantic to move me the same way free jazz or modial jazz does(check out Herbie
Hancock's _Maiden Voyage_), although because of my love for jazz guitar, I
could listen to Charlie Christian for hours at a time.  I guess the main way
I guage my interest in any style of jazz is how much I enjoy jamming along
with it. This pretty much includes any typ of jazz from the cool era on. I
enjoy tremendously fusion jazz (for example Mahavishnu Orchestra's _Inner
Mounting Flame_ or Herbie Hancock's _Mwandishi_), latin jazz, some avant garde
(Sun Ra), and free (Coleman, Coletrane). Sadly, I'm not too familiar with many
latin jazz artists. Could anyone suggest any? 

response 64 of 115:

Sep 16 05:55 UTC 1997

Dave-- you mention a lot of jazz styles that are influenced by other genres,
save freeform.  Have you ever tried fusion, or rock that is influenced by jazz
(say, Chicago), Twila? 

Thank you, Mike-- even a spelling freak like me has to be corrected sometimes.
I knew it wasn't right.  Jamiroquai is a jazzy pop group that has been on the
British club scene for years, but has only now been given exposure in the
U.S., according to MTV news.  The group's video for "Virtual Insanity" was
nominated for "Best New Group" at the MTV Music Video Awards.

Indeed, jazz encompasses many well-defined sub-genres, but to most people,
what is termed "classical" includes chorale music, baroque, classical,
Romantic, Impressionist (Debussy's music-- he was an anomaly), neoclassical
(whichis a misnomer-- neo*baroque* is more accurate), Modern, and post-Modern.
Thus Eurocentric music genres have tended to be lumped together as well.

I think latin jazz includes salsa and meringue.  I haven't heard Willie Bobo,
but he falls into the salsa category.  Beyond that, I really haven't a clue.
You'll enjoy salsa-- it shares some of the influences carribean music does,
sparkling with the sound effects of percussion 'goodies' and smaller drums.

response 66 of 115:

Sep 18 22:08 UTC 1997

Jon, yes, I love fusion. That is, if we can agree on a definite meaning for
the term. I consider Miles Davis' style around the _Bitches Brew_ _Tribute
to Jack Johnson_ period to be fusion. I consider Weather Report around the
_I sing the Body Electric_ period to be fusion. I consider Herbie Hancock's
work on the _Mwandishi_ and _Headhunters_ albums to be fusion. I would say
the Mahvishnu Orchestra's stuff is almost *all* fusion. But then again, I
consider Blood Sweat and Tears' first album to be fusion. And I could really
stretch and say that Steely Dan's and Chicago's first few albums were fusion.
In any case, all the music I just mentioned, I truly LOVE. So, if indeed,
these examples are accepted forms of fusion, then I guess I DO love fusion.

I think that latin jazz also includes Bosso Nova. I was reading something that
Carlos Jobim said before he died. He said (paraphrasing) that that if one was
bosso at something, they were extremely good. So a bosso guitar player, he
said, was a virtuoso. I really wish I knew more about latin jazz (Brazillian
and Cuban, in particular).

response 68 of 115:

Sep 19 16:18 UTC 1997

Actually, at the end of the 1800's, Carribean music was a significant
contribution to the music of New Orleans that eventually became jazz. It is
not at all surprising that New Orleans was the main City where jazz developed.
Not only was the actual population of the city extremely diverse, it was also
the main major seaport in the south U.S. Ships from all over the world came
into New Orleans ports, a large number of them from the Carribean and other
parts of Latin America.

response 70 of 115:

Sep 30 16:36 UTC 1997

I've recently, over the past 2 or three years, started buying Coltrane. Most
of his stuff (that I've heard) I love. I've also heard some of his really
free, unstructured, Ornette Coleman type stuff that I can't seem to get into.
I really miss the Community radio station down in Tampa (WMNF 88.5). They have
the most incredible lineup of ANY radio station I've ever heard. Here in
Gainesville, the local public radio station plays amazing music as well, but
only from midnight until 5 a.m. The rest of the time, they play "classical"
music, which is okay at times, but a bit weary if you're driving around all
day (unless you have your recorder in your car with you, and you catch a
groovy fugue by Bach to jam along with).

response 72 of 115:

Oct 1 17:27 UTC 1997

Mark, check out _Stellar Regions_ and more importantly, _Giant Steps_. The
changes on giant steps are pure genuis. Supposedly, he sat in his apartment
for a year practicing the title track from this album, before he would play
it for anyone (much less record it), according to the professor who just
taught the jazz history course I was in over the summer. 

response 74 of 115:

Oct 2 20:14 UTC 1997

If you want a cool twist to _A Love Supreme_, there's an album that Carlos
Santana and John McLaughlin did called _Love, Devotion, Surrender_, that has
the tune _A Love Supreme_ . I can't remember off the top of my head if they
do another Coltrane tune on this album, but I gotta tell you, these two guys
together are incredible!