Are you a musician? These comments definitely sound like a musician's
comments.
You can not quantify music by "damaging side" or "sensibilities". It is a
sound that people "dig", pure and simple. As dynamics are concerned its a
musical tool not a necessity. As rehash is concerned Jazz is full of
rehash. A lot of well known jazz talents do Jazz "covers"/"standards".
What Jazz musician does not have a a fake book, rehash.
As acid jazz is concerned the phase to use is "It don't mean a thing if
it ain't got that swing" or more specific "groove". Concerning group
improvisation, dynamics and chordal diversity, so what. Acid Jazz is
groove music. Music to get the foot tappin' and the booty shakin'. Its
about the beat. Staying power. Rock has so far has staying power and it
broken all your jazz rules. Its about the beat ...
I bet your musician!
My two cents ...
Juano
jaraya@lucent.com
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From: Steve "Chili" Grebanier[SMTP:zoot@interlog.com]
Sent: Friday, April 11, 1997 6:21 PM
To: acid-jazz
Subject: Re: popularity
Elson Trinidad wrote:
Let's take a look at that all ilusive term Acid JAZZ. That second word
IS JAZZ! For a established, recognized, and respected JAZZ magazine like
Downbeat to take a serious, and respectful look at Acid Jazz, is
completley a step in the right direction for the music. Especially if it
is, "dying" or dead in the underground. It elevates it's status as a
new, inspired and accepted form of jazz.
And believe me, the last thing a write up in Downbeat is going to
accomplish is place it in the mainstream. You'd need articles in SPIN
and Rolling Stone for that to ever happen. All they're doing is giving
overdue props from the jazz world.
The damaging side of Acid jazz (from a jazz perspective) is it's lack
of dynamics, it's lack of group improvisation and it's reliance on
sequencers and drum machines. The other problem is the retro approach
of bands like BNH and Jamaroqui. Both of these bands, while very
talented, are simply rehashing grooves laid down in full force by Stevie
Wonder and a zillion jazz/funk projects from the seventies.
In "jazz land", a true imalgamation of hiphop beats (real drummer,
please) and jazz sensibilities (harmonic approach, improvisation &
interaction) is what will have staying power and modern relevance. This
turns JAZZ into a music enjoyed not only by the people who wanna hear
some dude blow, but also by the folks who wanna groove out. Kinda like
the way jazz started out...party music!
_______________________________________________________________________
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. Check it Out!!
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