ไม่สามารถเล่นวิดีโอนี้
ขออภัยในความไม่สะดวก
Honest Reviews of 10 Classic Jazz Reviews from a Non-Fan
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ธ.ค. 2023
- I am not a jazz fan and have been attempting to grasp this music for decades. Here, I give an honest review of 10 classic jazz albums and also give my opinion of the definition of jazz.
![80s New York City Pop Time Travel [vol.4] 🌆 [lofi Grove/Smooth Jazz/R&B/Post-Disco/cafe music]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Wbr7lxYP4sQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![80s New York City Pop Time Travel [vol.4] 🌆 [lofi Grove/Smooth Jazz/R&B/Post-Disco/cafe music]](/img/tr.png)
![[TH]FFWS SEA 2024 Fall - Knockout Stage Day 1](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/nsDmUQdWVtg/mqdefault.jpg)
'Fithen vs. Jazz' should be a regular segment. love it.
I'm a hardcore Jazz fan. I found your video to be funny and on point in many aspects. There is a certain percentage of TH-camrs regardless of genre who "get off" on belittling others on their "lack of knowledge".
I absolutely love jazz music, especially fusion.
How you feel about jazz is how I feel about Kiss.
This is the perfect comment. Haha. Ditto!!
AMEN!
I feel nostalgic about Kiss because I first heard them when I was seven.
I think you like Kiss more than I do then :D
@RobertFithen your nostalgia for Kiss is probably the same as my nostalgia for Motley Crue. I was probably 6 or 7 when I first heard them.
Robert, I know where you're coming from ; there's a lot of pretension with new vinyl collectors playing Coltrane etc, and anything that they've read is supposed to be cool. However, some of us older blokes remember what a huge impression 'Time Out', and in particular ''Take Five 'made on us when it was released in 1960, with its unusual time signatures. Joe Morello, the drummer on that record is one of the finest . Also, the Getz/Gilberto record brought to the world Brazilian rhythms and introduced Antonio Carlos Jobim to the world. Combined with the best American tenor sax jazz player, ie Stan Getz, it was album of the year. Joao Gilberto's guitar and straight-ahead singing was also a great feature. Even his wife , Astrid who sang on it because she could speak English was a brand new sound. The Bossa Nova was the last big bang before the Beatles hit. Give it another play, mate!🙂.
Yes, when one grew up in a certain era we tend to be influenced by the music of that time… yet as time goes on music morphs to new dimensions or sub genres. Rock is my all time type music genre, but I do appreciate some type of jazz mostly driven by piano, or guitar… Love music! Keeps me sane… thank you for you insightfulness guys!
Incredible to think this metal head isnt able to appreciate the drumming on Time Out.... and has a youtube channel.
Love your videos. This one made me laugh out loud. Keep up the good work fella.
As a jazz lover (as well as rock etc) I loved this video. The great thing is that there is enough music out there to get everybody off. Your honesty is both entertaining and appreciated! Love your channel!!!
Thanks!!
"This is Ascension, cool title wonder what that sounds like" Oh boy...
I wasn't into jazz most of my life. 2 years ago I listened to Keith Jarrett and Return to Forever albums and it just clicked so perfectly. It's an outstanding genre that I ignored for years.
I think for a lot of a lot of people (especially rock fans) fusion is one of the key ways people discover jazz. Its kind of a bridge between jazz and rock so it puts people less out of their comfort zone
got into jazz via listening to Jarrett as well!
Following your lead, I am going to review all the Vincent Van Gogh paintings. "They all look like something a kid could have done."
I got into jazz in 2009. Now i love the genre and I love collecting jazz records.. FYI, I grew up with metal in the 80's. I love rock, indie, country (the good kind), Americana, blues, afrobeat, reggae, funk, and more. Diversity in music keeps it interesting for me.
Agreed. I'm a metalhead through and through but my recent record store trip saw me get Booker T and the MGs, John Lee Hooker, RL Burnside, and eyeing up a Marvin Gaye album.
Very interesting video Robert. I had a kind of mad intro to the world of jazz when I was accidentally employed by a major newspaper in the UK as a jazz critic (long story) despite really not knowing much about it at all (although I did have a 45 of 'Take 5' as a kid which I loved). Faced with the choice of either finding some angle on it and trying to appreciate it on its own terms in order to write about it, or staying stuck in the desk job I hated, I went for the first option and kind of 'wrote my way into' liking it. It sounds non-sensical but it did work, and I wasn't just being a pretentious opportunist. I would say that the best way to 'get' jazz is to hear it live - there's a visual and kinetic dimension to actually seeing these musicians doing what they do, which is completely lacking when you just spin the record. To this day though, jazz to me is still touch-and-go - sometimes I get bored with listening to song-based music so get heavily into jazz, but then I can happily go for literally years without hearing a note of it. It's totally fascinating that you responded well to Ornette Coleman.
I've seen it live, but I think it was bad groups. I need to see some real jazz live.
Have a listen to that copy of Ascension by Coltrane if you get chance - it's even madder than Ornette. Also check out Miles Smiles as an antitode to Kind of Blue. That second quintet he had churned things up a lot more and it's definitely not finger-clickin' background music.There's a track on there called 'Agitation' which sums up the record and their sound in a few short minutes. As you don't like trumpet you probably won't like it anyway, but it's worth a listen. Also, 'In A Silent Way' is an interesting one as it was put together more like a rock record, with segments of the performances edited together and collaged by the producer rather than happening in real time like most jazz does.
Just watching this now Robert and was interested in your comment about jazz reminding you of a soundtrack. I think that was one of the things that first attracted me to jazz; the way it could paint a mood and atmosphere, and create images in sound. That's what my ear was picking up watching old film noir movies, cop thrillers etc. Then when I started buying jazz records, the music would stand alone and it became its own 'language'. Film imagery opened the door, but once I stepped through it was an independent listening world. Great video as usual. Many thanks.
lol...i really want your next video to be you reading the script /overdubbing Charlie Brown Christmas and doing all the peanuts characters voices.
You’ve always been the realest in the community. Agreed that it seems a lot of people act like they like jazz just to like jazz. But great vid. Unfiltered and honest how this part of TH-cam should be
Not bad for a guy who doesn't like jazz. I'm not a jazz expert, but listen to the jazz station in my car because I find it to be relaxing. I think Mingus was the bandleader and that's why the album has his name on it. (That was a common practice in the old days.)
Not just the bandleader, he composed most of the music and was also the bass player -- and sometimes the piano player.
Oh man, I love ya buddy but imho you are way off on this one!
That's cool you don't like jazz, but there's some incredible music on those records!
Thanks for your video 😃🎸🎺🎷👍. I used to hate jazz and have always done so, but for about 3 years ago I bought a couple of jazz records and now own over 320 records with all kind of jazz. I just love it now, even free jazz is growing on me. I would never have guessed that some years ago. PS. I love horns and funky jazz😎
Same story for me man
“Maybe your sex has safe words? NIN?” - Hilarious
I enjoy jazz. I have take 5. And the out-takes album too. I find jazz soothing. You had some great albums there. It was jazz that prompted me to buy vinyl again. Thank you for the video.
Being that you’re not a jazz fan, it’s hilariously cool that you took to “Science Fiction,” of all things. Love that record. Glad you got something out of it.
I don't have the foggiest idea of the meaning of any jazz song, but I enjoy the sound and different moods. I understand people not liking the genre because I was that way for a long time, then one day it just clicked for me.
You are focusing on commercial-mainstream Jazz here, which is similar to pop/rock music, the gems are usually less well known! Jazz is the zenith of music, but you need to see the masters of the genre live to experience it fully. It might be this is not your 'fate'!
Jazz is all about improvisation. It is all about a style of performance. I first heard jazz in junior high school and I liked it. However, people should not be judged by their musical tastes and everyone is entitled to their own opinions.
I'm a writer, and there are a number of obscure, recondite, quirky, commercially unpopular writers I love that few other people do. I love these writers because they inspire my own writing, and because they are working through problems I myself am working through. I always thought many jazz fans loved jazz for the same reason I love those writers.
All the writing problems have been worked through already. So there's nothing you should be struggling with at this point.
But, yeah. Keep struggling. That way you get to be recondite forever.
As a real jazz fan, very fair assessment. I basically say there's two types of jazz fans: the ones that love other genres that don't sound at all like it, i.e. metal or industrial or something, and then there's the jazz fans whose favorite non-jazz artist is Steely Dan.
As a Rockmusic fan I found three Jazz records that really impressed me:
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
Miles Davis - Sketches Of Spain
Jasper van t'Hof - pili pili
"Jazz is not dead. It only smells a bit strange" (Frank Zappa).
I couldn’t agree more about the TH-cam channels that have turned into jazz people over the last few years. I’ve stopped watching so many channels and have unsubscribed to so many people because I also hate the phoniness. A few years ago everyone started showing psychedelic records thinking that they were cool. It pissed me off to no end. I like the channels that have their own voice and their own passion and love. I own some of those jazz records that you just showed and I agree with you. I am not a fan of most jazz. I don’t get it either. But I can sell them off and buy what I want because now is the time to cash in on jazz while it’s the “trendy” thing. I wonder what the next cool record trend will be? Thanks for the video!
Cheers,
Brian☘️
My money is on classical. Even though I have actually enjoyed a lot of classical music over the years, I'm betting that's what the next trend will be.
As a 30+ year collector of Jazz, I noticed a huge shift when the Tone Poet series began. It's easily available, shiny and has status symbol vibes, now every major label seems to be doing a "high quality" consumer friendly jazz series.
People showing their $200 Amazon haul is hardly what I call collecting, nor does it make for an interesting video.
Great honest review. Elevator music gone wrong is my take on jazz.
Much of it seems very incidental.
When I was a teenager Rock Music was a big deal for me like it was for many others. However my personal most important element of a good song was a good solo, in Rock Music usually played on guitar. So with no surprise I came easily into Fusion Rock (you can call it also Fusion Jazz, just a matter of your point of view) and I listened to great guitar players like Frank Zappa, John McLaughlin, Steve Morse (his band Dixie Dregs played rock music with some jazz elements), Lowell George (Little Feat is sometimes pretty jazzy, too), Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius (bass guitar) and so on.
After listening to them over and over again with great enthusiasm it was just a matter of time and I was ready for Bebop or Cool Jazz with solos played on other instruments.
Today I love them all from Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin to John Coltrane and Miles Davis although I can stand music without a solo, too meanwhile :)
So I assume if the guitar solo in between a rock song is less interesting or even annoying to you then it will be almost impossible for you to get into Jazz and in fact there is no reason for it at all.
I always chuckle when we judge those whose judgement we feel. 😁 Regardless, I saw the humor in this. I’m a jazz lover but often omit that in conversations about music I have with others precisely because so many people assume that someone who’s into jazz is trying to appear ‘sophisticated.’ I don’t think that’s ‘fair’ either. Let’s remember that this music was created by folks whose parents or grandparents worked on plantations. Jazz was anything but elitist. I myself have a very humble background and certainly did not grow up with a silver spoon up my ass, and yet I fell in love with jazz music many years ago. Jazz is acquired taste. It requires a bit of work. Great sense of humor. Rock on!
Well, I said it wasn't all people who say they like jazz. I know a few people who I assume have a real appreciation for the music. I also think I have a pretty good BS detector. I inherited it from my mother.
Great comment.
It's easy to conjure bias against what we do not know, I think Mr. Flithen knows he does not now and I caught some subtle satire, but some of these other comments are borderline pathological.
I have been collecting records for 35 years, jazz for 30 and I have never given a thought to what others may think of my collecting. I can't speak for everyone, but all the collectors I know and have met over the years feel the same. Now there is judgement and division within the community, especially with subgenres like Free Jazz, Fusion or Vocalists, but that's another discussion.
Isn't vinyl collection a kind of snobbery, too, though? Around 1993 I sold my entire vinyl collection. About 20 years ago I started acquiring recordings again, and the only ones I buy on vinyl are the ones I can't get on CD.
I am mystified by the vinyl phenomenon.
Jazz isn't just about improvisation. Classical musicians used to improvise -- we just weren't around to hear it and they had nothing to record their improvisations with. But improvisation is a characteristic to the majority of jazz. Jazz is also unique from most other musical styles/genres (at least it was up until around the mid to late 1960s) because the harmonies, rhythms and instrumentation are different from most everything else. In jazz, if there are horns -- and for many years there usually were -- they are out front. And jazz musicians came up with the drum kit (rock stole the drum kit from jazz). And, like folk and country music, jazz removed the bow from the bass (with rare exceptions).
One way to think about the difference between jazz and rock (or jazz and soul or R&B) is that rock moved the guitar, bass, keys out front and the horns went in the back. There are a lot of other differences too. But a lot of my favorite jazz has no horns. Robert might like some of it too -- like the piano and guitar albums of Bill Evans and Jim Hall, just to name one example (though it might be too tame for him) -- or the fusion albums of the 70s.
The main thing though is that not all jazz fans like all these "classic" albums just like not all rock fans like Sgt. Peppers, Kiss Alive or The Velvet Underground and Nico. It's silly to label jazz fans as pretentious simply because you don't like what they like -- especially because there is probably as much variety within jazz as there is within anything else. Of course some jazz fans can be pretentious -- but not any more pretentious than many indie rock fans who drone on about Dinosaur Jr or shoegaze or Tool -- or prog fans who think Dream Theater is any good. I don't really like A Love Supreme, and I really dislike most jazz fusion (though not all of it), but I don't label those who do as pretentious (unless they really are acting pretentious). Some jazz fans might label Robert for being pretentious and trying to seem sophisticated for liking Ornette Coleman over Thelonious Monk. They'd be wrong -- maybe even as wrong as Robert is for hating Dave Brubeck :)
Thanks for this critique of jazz music, Robert. I'm in a similar boat to you, having never quite 'got' jazz. I'm an ex-professional (orchestral) musician, so I sometimes questioned where I was going wrong. I suspect I wasn't actually going wrong at all - jazz just isn't for me. I've veered close to jazz when I've listened to Soft Machine (Robert Wyatt-period) and I admit that's lost me a bit. I loved your definition of jazz music (improvised) vs. scored music (planned): I think that's spot-on. In the light of that, I couldn't help but think of some of Zappa's music, which is notoriously scored for the players (viz The Black Page). What do you make of that? And one of my favourite albums, King Crimson's LIZARD (KC's 'jazz' album) is, I believe, pretty much scored by Fripp for the jazz players, though to my ears it sounds more than good. Keith Tippett (the pianist on LIZARD) is known as a jazzer, though I haven't gotten around to hearing his albums....I do know I love his piano flourishes on KC albums. Keep up the excellent reviews and memoirs, absolutely entertaining and fascinating!
Jazz music as something to wear to impress people.. you nailed it.
Ridiculous!
I'm a big jazz fan and I totally lost it when Art Blakey started singing Ted Nugent's Free For All.🤣😂🤣 P.S. I didn't know "Kinda Blue" was supposed to be the greatest jazz album of all time. It did sell the most copies though. I can relate to the way you feel about jazz. I feel the same way about death metal and rap music.
I love me some jazz, but I completely get what you're saying about the vast majority of these albums. Love you and your forthright stance.
Try Lee Morgan's The Sidewinder. I'm pretty sure that'll be one you'll want to keep. My dad liked jazz; I grew up in the 60s and 70s listening to his records on a Bogen Challenger tube amp through Stromberg Carlson speakers. Still have the amp and his records and still enjoy them. But I'll admit that sentimental value is probably a large part of why I enjoy listening to this genre.
Never been a Jazz fan, but I do admit the music has a great influence on rock.
I’d recommend 2 albums that are a bit more exciting : Herbie Hancocks “ Headhunters”……more of a funk vibe to that album that is quite different from the others in this video. Also, the Miles Davis album you need to check out is “ Tribute to Jack Johnson”…..very prominent guitar throughout that one.
And if you don’t like those 2 then there is no hope!
With this video, your legend visibly grows. Bravo!
Thanks! Definitely my first jazz video.
Good review of those jazz albums from a non jazz fan!!! 10 points for at least trying!!!!
Thanks for this mate. I like your videos. Honest reviews and you know what you are talking about
Sonny Rollins is a good gateway drug
Great video as always. I respect that you’re saying what you feel. That’s the most important part of music. If you like Ornette Coleman though, I feel you might like eric dolphy. Only heard a few from each artist. But Eric is definitely in the crazy, left field free jazz realm. Thanks for the good videos!
Great video, I started getting into jazz, as in buying records for my collection, about a year ago, I have maybe 20 records now, Miles, Coltrane, Monk, a few others. I enjoy them late at night, alone, wee dram in hand, or Sunday morning when frying eggs. But I ain't no jazz fan (yet) in all honesty. Long live The Stones!!!
I'm fairly new to jazz, in the last 10 years or so. What really got me into it was a documentary called "1959, the year that changed jazz". Featured four albums, Time out, Kind of Blue, Ah Um and The shape of jazz to come (Ornette Coleman is unlistenable to me though) I became fascinated with that period, 1955-1962. I now have about 150 records from that period. I'm particularly fond of jazz guitar, Grant Green, Kenny Burrel, Wes Montgomery, etc. Thanks for another great video!
I agree with a lot of the comments here. I loved the Brubeck rant...and yeah, I'm a long-time Jazz fan. I laughed outload to a lot of this. Though I wouldn't dismiss people's tastes as phony just because it's not your taste. Jazz is like coconut. You either love it or you hate it. No in between.
I didn't say all jazz are like that, but you must admit, there are some that are.
My musical taste goes all over the spectrum, including jazz. "Time Out" is a great place to start. "Blue Rondo a la Turk" is based on Turkish rhythm patterns. It is written in a 9/8 time signature in this pattern -- 2 beats, 2 beats, 2 beats 3 beats; then later a measure of 3 beats, 3 beats, 3 beats. Listen to Dave's piano for this pattern. If you're a musician it's a great challenge to play..
Robert, this may sound like an off-the-wall comment (and maybe it is), but... since I know how significant K-Tel compilations were for you as a kid, do you think that had K-Tel also issued jazz comps in addition to the rock, pop, disco, and occasional country and classical collections... that maybe you would have dipped your toe in the jazz waters, in your formative years, and would now have a greater appreciation for the genre? If not... that's okay. It's quite alright not to like (much) jazz.
I believe you and I are roughly the same age (I was born in '72). That's partly why I wanted to give you my take on, if only our generation had been more exposed, as children, to jazz, like we were to other genres... and what better way to have accomplished that (for our generation, at least), than via K-Tel comps?
Thanks for the videos. This one, as well as your K-Tel one, are probably my two favorites so far. Your channel, in general, is fast becoming one of my favorites. 🎶
I love how funny your reviews are. I can imagine you walking into the Sistine Chapel and saying “ Why didn’t they use wallpaper, it would have been just as good “
"It's a little Jesus-y in here".
My introduction to Miles Davis was through buying the CD of Live Evil (which I love) so his earlier albums tend to sound a bit ‘pedestrian’ to me. I’m more into the likes of Bitches Brew, On The Corner, Jack Johnson etc but then, like later Herbie Hancock, it’s more jazz-rock, jazz-fusion… jazz-whatever but I just know l like it, then I’ve always liked a bit more experimental music such as Krautrock.
Cool man.
I’m not a big Jazz fan either but, I’d rather hear A Love Supreme over Dark Side of the Moon any day of the week. Your “Wallmart” comparison was silly.
Totally understand your thoughts on this… I have had many former friends and colleagues who “loved” this music and I didn’t get it. I’m a picky jazz listener and I have jazz albums I like and some I don’t (that’s jazz) Your opinions are entertaining.
Hilarious video. Love the honesty.
I’ve been listening to jazz since I was thirteen (I’m 49) because I started guitar and music lessons back then, and jazz and rock and metal were what got into picking up the instrument. I’m a “guncle” as well (not one of the Vinyl Community Guncle guys, though!), not that it matters, lol. In my opinion, I think your definition of jazz is accurate: improvised music. Even if composed pieces do exist, for the most part it’s about improvisation and the interaction between players. The other aspects of jazz are harmonization / reharmonization of the music, the use of extended chords, and emphasis on rhythm/syncopation. Not in that order necessarily. Sorry if that sounds a bit technical or snobbish, I don’t mean to, just trying to add to the definition that is basic and elemental and concrete without going into a rabbit hole!! People like what they like, and if something doesn’t click with the person, then it is what it is. Music should be enjoyed, not a chore. Some people truly enjoy jazz and others don’t! More “emperor’s new clothes” videos like this 👍👍 And, yes, Ornette Coleman rocks 😁
All of the records you reviewed were in a similar style, you should review some more avante garde stuff like Gil Scott Heron, Lonnie Liston Smith, or Pharoah Sanders. I feel like people don’t like jazz until they hear it in a certain way, it’s a big genre.
In Canada, he's known as Kilometers Davis.
Another wonderful video ! I’m glad to see someone let the air out of the over inflated jazz genre recently . The pretentiousness of some TH-camrs is quite telling. I’ve tried to listen to this kind of jazz and “get it” , I just don’t. Thank you.
LOL. Sorry you feel that way about Time Out / Take Five. I grew up on this album. I love the weird time signatures, and as a kid I'd stick my head between the speakers and loved the stereo separation on that record. no joke, I whistle a number of the tracks from that LP... it's not a status thing, at least for me.
Keep on rockin' in the free world! (Although I hate Neil Young's voice)
I just got into jazz last year, pretty much hated it toll.then.... it's been growing on me. Great video as usual fithen
😄 In order to understand Miles' Kind Of Blue you gotta listen to a lot of jazz albums that came out before it...
Check out the Art Blakey track The Freedom Rider. It is an incredible drum solo piece!
Fantastic video again Robert. Love the way you puncture the pompous.
Yes! Finally, someone hit the nail on the head! Well done!👍👍👍👍👍
"Jazz" is such a broad genre, one that I've had only minimal exposure to. The few jazz albums I own tend to fit into one of three categories:
1 - albums that cross over to other genres I'm more familiar with
2 - albums that have tracks that I heard frequently enough on the radio and/or dance floor that I found I liked them
3 - other albums from artists in the above two categories
There are definitely classic jazz albums that I simply don't (and likely never will) "get." But, hey, that's true for the genres/sub-genres that comprise major portions of my collection.
Great honest review of some Jazz albums, and how some people seem to be faking being fans.
Only Jazz I got on vinyl is some Miles Davis, and what would be in a noir detective film. I did listen to stuff some people recommend, but rock and metal is what I love.
Only time Jazz fans hate what I say, is when I say audiophile labels are focusing WAY too much on those titles, but not popular stuff that many want
I’m not a big jazz fan either but I have a few of the “essential” albums.
It’s best when you see it live imo.
It’s kinda like eating at a Tex mex restaurant hearing Tejano music while you eat. There’s a time and place for it.
Art Blakey is featured on a Grant Green album called Nigeria. No horns - just drums, bass, piano and guitar. But i really love his drumming on the track Egyptian from the album Indestructible. Would’ve loved a chance to get a clean copy of Kind of Blue but a I don’t live in the states
Thanks for the effort Robert! Your sacrifice is appreciated
Thanks!! I am definitely going to check out some of these drum-centered suggestions for Art Blakey. I may even make a follow-up video.
If you think the Ornette Coleman album is far out put on Coltrane’s Ascension and prepare yourself.
thank you for your honesty....now its my turn.....i hate trumpets/crumpets and strumpets.....please review my favourite band Lancelot Link and the Evolution Revolution
The idea of something being "the greatest ______ ever" or "a record everyone should own" might actually be a disservice to opening minds.
Kind Of Blue and Time Out are perfectly fine records, but they're probably not the best starting points, especially for rock fans.
I would even guess, maybe they've turned off quite a few potential fans.
If someone's gateway is out there, they'll find it, and if not, that's fine too.
You nailed it again Robert! And no, it's never too long ;-)
I've been trying to get into jazz too, I don't mind Kind of Blue, Time Out (yes I don't) and I like the Getz/Gilberto and Thelonious Monk (I don't have yours but I have Monk's Dream)
I tried A Love Supreme but I just can't get it.
To me, like you kinda explained, jazz is a live thing. I have attended several jazz club events and it was really enjoyable (not everything but mostly) and that's why I think it's really hard to get the same experience from a record. When you're there, a little tipsy, the atmosphere, the people, it all blends in well.
Listening at home just you your system and the record... it's really not the same thing.
It's funny because other genres of music it's no problem. Especially live recordings.
But now, I'm going to check that Ornette Coleman record which I wasn't aware of...
Oh BTW, the new wave of cinema is called "Nouvelle Vague" (new wave in French) with the movie "Ascenseur pour l'échafaud" (Elevator to the Gallows) got famous for Miles Davis soundtrack (another BTW, gotta check his ex-wife discography)
Cheers and thanks and good luck for the record show!
Thanks for your sacrifice. Be careful-the jazz police will be looking through your folders.
Your video was entertaining on so many levels:
1. Passing by the Fraternity album was THE ONE THING you did that deserves punishment.
2. The "punishment" took the form of disrespecting nearly 90% of the people who claim to love jazz.
3. The section describing Charlie Brown walking though a bunch of leaves with a wet sucker is brilliant. The Getz/Gilberto commentary is a huge bonus.
I think your description of jazz is pretty sound, although I would add that -- sometimes, at least? -- jazz percussionists do a similar thing with rhythm.
Also, I agree with you 100% about jazz in general -- passable atmosphere at best. Rarely engaging and never enthralling. But I still feel a little bad about not "getting" it. Also, I own that Getz/Gilberto album. Got it for free from a friend a few years ago. Figured I'd better keep it because it's so highly regarded. Have not yet played through the entire thing.
There is a little jazz I like. Ramsey Lewis Trio’s version of “Slipping Into Darkness” is such a killer song. I’ve been to my share of big band concerts. But like you, there isn’t much else that I get into when it comes to jazz. I like because it feels young and fun. When I listen to jazz the liver spots start breaking out all over. I’m just not old enough to get that much into it.
Have you heard of the band Beirut? The album Riptide has some of my favorite trumpet parts, the title track and the song “Santa Fe” are done really well. Other than that the trumpet doesn’t really grab me that much either.
I like some jazz but I'd struggle to explain exactly what jazz is. I think you did a good job with your definition but the big question is, what's the Fraternity album like?
Yeah, I tried Kind of Blue and it didn't do anything for me either. I've always said that Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson (along with Frank Sinatra) are essentially jazz singers, so I agree with your definition of jazz as a style.
Not a jazz fasn myself,but love jazz rock fusion.If you want more straight forward and a lot harder check out Mahavishnu Orch..Inner Mounting Flame.Or Return to Forever,Billy Cobham's Spectrum with Tommy Bolin on guitar..Al Dimeola's elegant Gypsy.More guitar based and no horns,maybe more up your alley.
I like Dave Brubeck and I don't think I'm better than you !
Youre the best Robert, very entertaining video. Try Ornette's Free Jazz, A Collection Imorovisation. Its insanity, two quartets, one on the left channel, one right channel playing two different things only briefly touching on pre-composed passages.
Keep 'em coming!
You're right Robert Fithen, why should you listen to something you don't like? Just this time, and to help you, I will buy all those records fo 10 dollars. Think about it, a whole 10er! Cheers.
"Jazz sounds like instruments being played by people who don't how to play instruments." Pretty sure Mike's (from the In-Groove) wife said this, or something similar, and it's 100% accurate.
My mom likes some smooth jazz, which is ok. The other kind reminds me of what Violet on Downtown Abbey said. It was something to the effect of "do you think any of them know what the others are playing?"
I got into jazz back in like 1998. I do like it, but not all of it.
The African Beat by Art Blakey is one you should check out, very drum forward
Thanks!!
As a Ken Burns fan, his Jazz documentary was a bit of a let down for me. It will give you an extremely in-depth history lesson on the first 10-20 years from around the turn of the century but it speeds through the next 60ish years which, as a jazz listener, encompasses my favorite eras of jazz. It’s kinda like history books in school, so much focus of the revolutionary war stuff then glosses over the more recent stuff.
He did the same with the country music documentary. I think the jazz documentary was more of a love letter than an educational experience
Your's is THE ONLY channel, in all of these wannabe reviewers, critics, etc where I can sit through a 43 minute video and be entertained through out the whole duration. When I see someone is gonna review an album, on TH-cam (that I've already heard thousands of times) and see that it's got 4 digits in it's time stamp I'm a moving on
Thanks!!
I'm definitely a fan of jazz, and like most music, taste is subjective... one person's cup of tea may not be for others... that what makes listening to music so great for me, is that there's pretty much something out there for everyone to enjoy, while at the same time not everybody will enjoy the same thing. Variety is the spice of life.
Ornette Coleman is one of my favorite performers because his music is that daring and challenging... it demands itself to be listened to. His best work was done in the 60s, so if you liked Science Fiction you should give some of his earlier stuff a chance as well.
Ascension (my personal favorite jazz album) and Om by John Coltrane are in the similar exploratory, challenging, together then splinter apart kind of vibe to them.
I generally would agree that improvisation is a key element of jazz, and based on watching your videos and having a feel for what you like, I believe you might actually like some of the Fusion work that came out in the 70s... a lot of it is electric, funk and/or rock oriented.
Things like Monk, Mingus, Davis, and Brubeck that you noted are quite valid observations, and for the most part some people only get jazz to listen to in the background, or to lay back and relax (Love your reaction to Everybody's Jumpin for that particular reason)
I appreciate you took the time to give these albums a listen and share what to me is an honest and genuine reaction. You hit the nail on the head of some jazz fans and also experimental fans is there is a tendency toward an aire of superiority that I believe paints those of us that appreciate a wide palate in a bad light.
Well done. I appreciate your honest effort on these reviews. I think I like jazz just a little more than you but I still rarely listen to it.
There are very few Jazz albums I actually enjoy listening to. I more enjoy jazz as a guitarist when i am trying to compose/play. That’s when I enjoy jazz
Another great video. I gotta be honest, I would say that I like Jazz, but most of the classics like "Mingus Ah Um" and "Kind Of Blue" are records I put on and fall asleep too. I do really like "Monk.", though. "April In Paris" is a track I like. Ornette Coleman is great, though. "The Shape Of Jazz To Come" is another good one. Thanks for keeping it real.
Super entertaining! Love the channel!
Thanks!!
Interesting and funny video, thank you for your work and for your channel. I like jazz, as well as I like soul, fusion, rock, "chanson française" (I'm french and I'm sorry for my bad english), hard-rock, blues, reggae, classical music, and so on. If i had to give a definition I would say, as you did, that the essence of jazz is improvisation. It's what I like in this music. The freedom that it implies and the way musicians have to listen to each other and react. I don't think that jazzfans pretend to like this music, in order to look smart. Snobbery does exist in every style, even in rock and heavy-metal.
Hi Robert I have listened to some jazz and really like the way it sounds but I don't get it like I get Rock, country and blues. there is nothing in it that makes me eager to listen to the records over and over.
Jazz aside, I love the faces when your mother or someone comes up to you and doesn't approve of what you're doing. 😂
Yep jazz is improvisation, sometimes a little sometimes a lot, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Either you like it or you don't, not much middle ground. And I am amazed that the only one you "kinda liked" was Ornette Coleman.
I once had an interesting encounter with a "jazz aficionado." The gentleman was in his nineties and was a lifelong resident of St. Louis. He told me the "straight dope" about Miles Davis. He said when Miles was a kid he was complaining to an older man about kids calling him a "band geek."
The older man said, "You come from a good family, Miles, your dad's a dental surgeon, you've had private lessons from Elwood Buchanan. They don't think you feel the music."
"Oh, I feel it!" Miles said.
"I know that. You know that. But they don't know that. I can help you."
"How so?"
"We're going to put you in some hip threads, and you're going to start wearing sunglasses a lot. Also, start talking in a raspy voice. That's sexy, kinda mysterious. Then we're going to put out an album with you called, dig this, the Birth of Cool. From then on your name will be synonymous with cool. And you're going to have to use heroin."
"Junkies are gross! They nod off and drool on themselves. No way!"
"But it will show you are a troubled artist. That will give you more allure. We're going to put out an album called Kind of Blue, and people will know you know what it feels like to be blue. They will know you feel it. And dig this, that album will be the best-selling jazz album of all time. You will have fortune, fame, and beautiful women with Bette Davis eyes hanging all over you. You'll be known as a genius. I'll see to that. I'm a jazz critic. When people hear your music, they'll hear words like genius, ground-breaking, life-altering, and essential listening. Sounds great, doesn't it?"
"Sure."
"I can give all that to you. Do we have a deal?"
"Deal? What deal?"
"Just think about what I told you, everything you could have. How much do you want those things? What are you willing to do for them? How much would you give up for them? I am the man who can make them happen. Just say yes. You have to say yes."
Davis was quiet for a moment, then said "yes" in a raspy voice.
So I was left with the question: are jazz critics devils?
Stay cool, man, stay cool.
The same thing happened with Robert Johnson. I always heard it was then-wife Betty Davis that got him from the suits into the hip clothing.
Thanks for replying. I heard that about Betty, too. I wish their was more footage of her performing. I see the same brief clips of her performances in the videos I've watched. She was incredible.
@@RobertFithen
You should give Ascension a listen since you liked the Coleman record. Very challenging, but a true experience.
I’m really enjoying your videos. I think I need to see a shrink.
Jazz is not about song, it’s about the improvisation the instrumentalist does with it. Just like you say at the end of your video. P.S. listen to some fusion. Yes you are correct!
I enjoy when someone who doesn’t enjoy something respectfully explains their reasons. Some of these records are great finds. I’m curious what you’re selling that Kind of Blue for.
Not sure yet. I'm curious if it will sell with that cover.
I think the reason you found that some of these jazz albums sound like TV shows or motion picture sound tracks is not because the jazz albums copied it, but because jazz was the "go to" music for detective movies, film noir or Charlie Brown specials.
Rock really was not considered soundtrack music until the late 1960s at earliest.
I think jazz has been academicized to a large extent and most of the albums you picked are pretty mainstream. The Miles album to me is probably the most overrated jazz album of all time; to me, only one album he did (Jack Johnson) was exciting. (A lot of rock musicians, including Jefferson Airplane - White Rabbit- were inspired by Miles).
You look younger than me (I am 71) and you were definitely influenced by rock music's dominance. Rock took rhythm and basically simplified the shit out of time keeping. (I would encourage you to check out a video of Joe Morello playing Take Five, especially the drum solo). But, I was forced to play Down By the River as a youngster and that WAS the most boring thing I ever listened to or played. It's stupid and static. I am so glad I wrote that. Brubeck is not exciting by rock standards; but Brubeck was out in the 1950s. There were different standards then.
Ornette is one of my favorite musicians of all time; Ornette covered a lot of different idioms, including a jazz funk group (Prime Time), symphonies, string quartets, etc.) Vernon Reid from Living Color is associated with Ornette Coleman. Other musicians you can check out from that idiom include Albert Ayler (who actually inspired the Beatles), early Archie Shepp, Coltrane on Impulse.
One other thing-like a lot of people who grew up with rock, there is a lot of intolerance for instrumentals or ear for influence.
The Doors' "noodling" on Light My Fire was the most interesting thing for me as a teenager. The inspiration for the middle section from Coltrane is that Coltrane improvises over a modal vamp and that's what the Doors did. Sorry you didn't like the "noodling". By the way, NO single album is worth ninety dollars. Coltrane's interpretation of My Favorite Things was going off the reservation with a long solo not based on changes but on modes. This gave a lot of musicians freedom to explore new areas. (the Byrds' Eight Miles High is directly inspired by Coltrane).
By the way, Louis Armstrong, way back, would improvise chorus after chorus.
Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson are interpretive singers; improvisation is not limited to jazz. There is improvisation in Flamenco and even in Western classical music (especially in organ music). See Derek Bailey's book Improvisation if you think you understand improvisation as the defining element of jazz-it is really the defining element of whole traditions of music around the world.
I understand you putting cultural references and time stamping things. In about ten years, we'll be dating current rap music as being tied to current soundtracks-because that's what they're using.
The Ken Burns documentary, aside from its coverage of Ellington, Armstrong, and a few others, is pretty pathetic. It almost ignored free jazz, skipped over fusion.
Monk has dozens of albums, some really quirky, like Underground.
But I don't necessarily disagree with some of your assessments-but I do feel your lack of knowledge of music history tends to diminish some of your assessments.
But you certainly have a right to your assessments. By the way, since the sustain on electric guitar was mainly inspired by horns, I thought I would point that out to maybe reassess your opinion of horns.
By the way, Coltrane's most famous drummer, Elvin Jones, influence an entire generation of rock drummers, including Ginger Baker, Mitch Mitchell, John Bonham and Keith Moon (and others). Both Moon and Baker switched to double bass drums after seeing Sam Woodyard with Duke Ellington. Philly Joe Jones influenced John Densmore. You might not like the albums but the musicians had a huge impact on rock music you do like.
I am not saying that obligates anyone to like it; just a reflection on where inspiration originates.
Jazz is variations on a theme in swing time. That's why there are so many songs "granny would like" on jazz albums. These musicians were exploring the popular melodies of the era, and this does largely explain the decline of the genre's popularity over the decades. Fewer and fewer people were familiar/emotionally connected with the melodies of old standards. Gotta know the themes to appreciate the variations. The swing style aged along with that music, and efforts to explore new melodies in the same way eventually came to be perceived as novelty/kitsch.
Most of the collectors you're talking about aren't snobs, they just appreciate the artistry and history of the genre. I'm sure a certain percent of audiophiles only really like jazz because they enjoy the richness of acoustic sound on vinyl. Some are actual snobs, yeah, but there are a-holes connected to every interest.
Most collectors aren't pretending, and their enthusiasm is not an insult to you or anyone else. People get insecure about this music when it's really just meant to be freewheeling and fun. Expressive. The complexity is harmonic color and rhythmic texture i.e these guys are playing the shit out of the music. But in a tasteful way. Not a heavy metal kind of way.