Just what is this jazz stuff?
Jason Webb (jw@urn.su.nottingham.ac.uk)
Thu, 6 Jun 1996 11:23:36 +0100 (BST)
Y'know, until about five years ago, I though I knew exactly what jazz is
- after all I'd been listening to for it for years, and I knew it didn't
bear any resemblance to the rock or pop I listened to. Then, I was
introduced to Acid Jazz, and suddenly the boundary between jazz and other
forms of music had become blurred and indistict. Now, I have real
difficulty is distinguishing certain artists in terms of their genre.
Not that it bothers me, 'cos if I like I just do it (to quote JK). But,
the other day I replaced a taped version I once had of Supertramp's
Crisis? What Crisis album on CD, and as I listened I thought, yep, here's
another instance of that blurry boundary being transgressed in a number
of songs with loads of hammond/jazz organ, jazzy piano grooves, sax,
clarinet. It makes me even more convinced that putting categories on
music is a fruitless endeavor. No, I'm not trying to start another
thread on 'What is Acid Jazz?', but I just thought I share the thought
with you. Other bands/artists which seem to slip in and out of jazz to my
ears include Prince, Genesis (yes really), Sting, Led Zepplin, Pink
Floyd, Marillion (very occasionally), Chris Rea, St Etienne, Thin Lizzy
(yep, them too), Robert Palmer, David Bowie (especially on Black Tie,
White Noise), and I'm sure there are many others I can't think of right
now (my brain is saturated having just done an exam).
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Jason Webb - DJ, Student and Fun Guy
University Radio Nottingham
http://www.urn.su.nottingham.ac.uk
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