Re: The AJ Seed

Mark McGrain (dabonedawg@plunge.com)
Wed, 08 May 1996 15:55:44 -0400


Hey-hey ho,

I've been keepin' an eye on this "seed" thang with keen interest (though I've
been too busy to be able to respond earlier, sorry). Jazz up until the
advent of be-bop, or at least post-bop, was primarily associated with good
times, dancing and letting loose. As it became more introspective it began
to aligned itself with an attitude of higher art. A positive move in so far
as securing a position as a lasting art form but not such a cool move in so
far as it's role as a vital form of entertainment. I think that as jazz
alienated itself from a popular/entertainment audience many of it's
practitioners (ex. Zawinal, Hancock, even/especially Miles)began to miss the
fun that was originally such an attractive part of the music they grew up
listening to. As rewarding as it is to make serious music with other
musicians, there's no substitute for playing to a widely diverse audience
that's not only hearing what you're doing but's also movin' and groovin',
rappin' and tappin', . Acid Jazz, I humbly propose, may have grown out of a
need for not only the players to have some less encumbered fun but also the
audience's desire to have something cool and hip to party to again. Many
players that I've known over the years have often expressed a frustration
with the fact that while the blues, R&B, funk, & rock crowds were out there
havin' a ball jazzers were left with an off-night following. Jazz, for all
it's creative splendor, can be imposing. Acid Jazz is made to be moved to
and has thus finally put the ass back into jass (orig. spelling).

shibooda-badoobip, bidoowah-badoobhang!

peace - pulse - play - plunge

da bone dawg