Everything Jazz

How does one appreciate true blue jazz music? Some might say that musical appreciation is relative to every person. And yes, it is. This just a general suggestion on how to appreciate music outside our comfort zones, how to explore and how to actually find what you find. Try to be open to every kind of music, and not just the mainstream ones. Listen to the song’s lyrics. No singer writes a song that’s so obscure, nobody can relate to it. Even the strangest ones hold something that a listener can see herself mirrored into against. Open yourself to new experiences, and who knows, the music world is your playground.

In the early 1980s, a less than heavy commercial kind of jazz fusion called pop fusion or “smooth jazz” became successful and garnered significant radio airplay, with smooth jazz saxophonists such as Grover Washington, Jr. and Najee. Smooth jazz received lots of airplay across the U.S., helping to push the careers of jazz vocalists. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a number of subgenres combined jazz with mainstream music, such as Acid jazz, nu jazz, and jazz rap. Acid jazz and nu jazz combined elements of jazz and modern forms of electronic dance music.

While I was browsing the internet for jazz artists, I came across an artist named Karen Benjey. This is the first time I heard about her. I really have no idea who she was but I got curious and listened to some of her songs online.

She has a beautiful voice but I can’t just ignore the accompaniment used in her songs. Even from the start, I knew that jazz music has a different edge. It’s really very distinct and Karen Benjey has proven it more. If you are interested to listen to her sample music, you can visit cdbaby.com or allaboutjazz.com for other jazz artists.

Image source: cdbaby.com

Jazz music? Well I am not really a fan of jazz music. All I know is that I know it is jazz when I hear one. Though I am not a regular listener of jazz music, I still have my favorite artist. I guess he is the only jazz artist I know. Anyway, I love the sound of Kenny G’s music. When I hear him play the saxophone, it’s like I just want to sit and relax all day. I must admit that it’s really relaxing to hear his music. It’s like the music is touching your soul. It’s a different feeling, really.

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Ironic as it may seem but the first thing that comes to my mind when I hear the word jazz is a saxophone. This instrument has been very popular when jazz music began.

I’m not really familiar with this music and the only artist that I can think of when I hear such music is Kenny G. Little did I know that there are other artists such as Louis Armstrong, Peter Brotzmann and The King and Carter Jazzing Orchestra. I believe jazz music has a distinct sound that even a person who is not a music lover could easily relate to it.

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Renowned artists became recognized by Jazz music. From the 19th Century, they worked hard to revolutionize and develop the Jazz melody. Jazz fusions like Cool Jazz, European Jazz Soul Jazz and Jazz-Rock have their prominent artists such as:

1. Oscar Peterson – a Canadian jazz pianist
2. Ella Fitzgerald – a jazz vocalist
3. Louis Armstrong – an American jazz trumpeter
4. Maxwell “Max” Roach – a jazz innovator
5. Miles Davis – a jazz composer

These artists paved the way among other musicians that’s why Jazz is very popular all-over the world. As a whole, Jazz made great contributions not only to Music but also to all the people.

Jazz as a musical style, differs because it could be sounded as folk but not folk, blues but not blues. Actually, Jazz may be resembled in RnB or known as rhythm and blues, but it only differs by what musical instrument is played. Besides, it is different because of the combination of American music and African music.

Today Jazz is being mixed with other genres like rock, Latin music, and this so-called hard bop and bebop style and others and this is called the Jazz fusion. Today, because of the evolution of the technology, Jazz uses some distorted sounds by electric guitars.

Jazz poetry is a poetry wherein it expresses a jazzy rhythm and style. Some of the jazz poets are Ezra Pound and T.S. Elliot, but then they’ve given up during early 1920’s. Come 1990, there were also new jazz artists who showed a very great talent in Jazz. Some of these are Aldo Romano and Andrew Hill who have received a Jazzpar prize.

If there’s a national museum, there is also an exclusive museum for Jazz. It is the American Jazz Museum located in USA. There, they exhibit histories not only Jazz but also American Music.

There is also an association exclusive for Jazz – International Association for Jazz Education. This is a non-profit institute for those talented individuals regarding Jazz. How great isn’t it?

Back during the army days in World War II, big bands were the ‘in’ thing in jazz, and toured all over American bases during the war, entertaining soldiers there.

A particular name that was famous during this time was Glenn Miller, who, during 1939 to 1942, was one of the best-selling swing jazz recording artists along with his band, the Glenn Miller Band. Oldies may remember the bands hits like “In the Mood”, “Moonlight Serenade”, “Chattanooga Choo Choo”, “Tuxedo Junction”, “Little Brown Jug”, and “Pennsylvania 6-5000″.

It is unfortunate though, that a tragedy befell Miller when he was on his way from the United Kingdom to Paris to perform for the troops that had liberated the city in 1944. He boarded a a single-engined UC-64 Norseman plane with the USAAF serial number 44-70285, on December 15, 1944, and was never seen again, along with the plane. The mystery remains unloved to this day.

The place has changed a lot in the recent years, with many of the notable bars and clubs closing shop, it’s hard to imagine the place without jazz that has been so part of the area’s history and development. Many areas where the true roots of jazz used to be found are now sprawling city blocks with hotels and other modern buildings that have all but erased the long and historic culture that gave way to jazz. Natural disasters and other issues such as the recession are weighing heavy on the music that has so developed into something of a legend with its soothing tunes and primal effect is soothing even the most tired soul.
The question now is if the spirit of jazz will once again return to its birthplace, long since abandoned by the many artists who used to grace the land, with their music, talent and pure genius.

They have proliferated the globe in the musical style that is jazz and many a famous artists have grown into their own, all made possible by the backyard bars and lounges that once housed the legends of Jazz. There may never be a true revival of the music in a place where rock, alternative and other styles have flourished all thanks to the innovations of jazz. Seems jazz survives only in the hearts and souls of those who favor the style over the many derivatives that have surfaced, like a child overtaking its parents in success and recognition.