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Intro to Jazz - Why the Passion?

Jazz fans share a special passion for the music they love. Why? How can you experience this? First a bit of background, At one time Jazz & Big Band music were pop music in America, and early jazz players were celebrities, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey , Duke Ellington & Count Basie

During this time, going out to hear live music and dance was a regular form of entertainment. New York City had scores of places with live music and dancing every night of the week.

52nd Street in NYC, shown above, had clubs in almost every building on the block! Many of the big bands took to touring the country, usually traveling by bus, increasing their exposure and spreading the music! During this period the careers of many notable singers, Frank Sinatra & Tony Bennett amongst them, were launched by singing with the big bands of the day. These vocalists later made the transition into the pop/mainstream arenas, but still referring to themselves as jazz singers.

As the costs of maintaining big bands, with 17-18 musicians, rose and people had other forms of entertainment available, (TV and films), smaller groups began to form and the music began to evolve. This evolution produced music that was heard in smaller clubs, not dance halls, and was a bit less dance friendly. This was the genesis of a listening music. Still a significant part of the population were enthusiastic fans and supported the genre.

Musicians by nature, always creating, continued to move the music forward. Some major players of the era, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie amongst others created a form a jazz known as Bebop. This intricate music is more difficult to understand and listen to. It is also not very danceable. You have to develop an ear for it and once you do, you will deeply appreciate its artistry. However, some fans were turned off by this ‘new’ music and jazz music lost most of its popularity.

This was occurring even during the ‘classic period’ of the mid- 50s to 60s, which produced some of America’s mot memorable music and musicians, John Coltrane , Miles Davis , Bill Evans, Dave Brubeck. Dave Brubeck recorded Take Five in July of 1959. It was the first jazz single to sell over a million copies, which was an incredible achievement in those days. Use this link to hear this song and others on this breakthrough album.

http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?z=y&WRK=163990

Musicians today continue in the traditions of the past giants while trying to move the music, modernizing the sound and adding Latin, Afro-Cuban and world music elements.

So why are today’s jazz fans so hard core? The next column will feature the elements which differentiate jazz and create its passionate fans.

Dan Petrosini - March 01, 2006

Dan Petrosini, Jazz Columnist

jazzywine@aol.com

Local Jazz Tip

Every Tuesday Evening at about 8:30 @ The Quay in Sea Bright, the Jazz Lobsters play for about 2-3 hours. It is a great show in this very intimate environment- no cover charge.