Prior to taking
this course and learning about the emergence and development of jazz in
different cities, my perception of jazz was that it was an unchanging, boring
genre. Without the knowledge of
the African aesthetics that influences the sound, performance, and growth of
jazz as a process, I associated jazz with music one hears in their grandparents
home and the hold music on the telephone that everyone despises. Taking this course, “History of Jazz”,
has revised my previously negative assumptions and has inspired and interested
me into discovering and learning about different styles of music. My opinions about jazz have transformed
from monotonous and dull to exciting and unexpected through the concept and
discipline of improvisation.
According to lecture,
jazz is a process, not only a style (March 12, 2013). It is the process of the growth and evolution of a changing
art form. Over the course of
history, jazz has adapted to its community and environment in satisfying the
listeners’ cultural needs. “It is
a dialogue with one’s ‘temporal and spatial environment’ by performing European
music in an African way” (Improvisation, March 12, 2013). In order to successfully communicate
with their audiences, the musicians needed to improvise. My idea of improvisation prior to
taking this course was a comedian’s ability to spontaneously think of something
on the spot, or for a student to improvise a speech that they had not prepared. However, spontaneity is
not the only necessary element to improvisation. Improvisation involves a dialogue in which the musicians
adapt and respond to the audience.
“The Harlem of rent parties and underground economies created music”
(Gioia, 94). In New York, there
was a constant competition to get and keep jobs, and a musician’s livelihood
depended on it. This pressure
forced the performers to use improvisation to satisfy a diverse crowd
(Improvisation, March 12, 2013).
This concept contributed to the development of a new, unique jazz style,
Stride, and continued the process and evolution of jazz.
I like your honesty when you said that you used to think that this style was just an old, boring sound that was heard in your grandparent's home. That is true for me considering my grandpa loves jazz music, so I can relate to you and your opinion. I also favored the concept of improvisation but didn't focus on the idea that it helped musicians respond to the audience. I definitely agree on that statement and the other ones you made about improvisation. All in all, I can relate very closely with your opinion.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you were truthful in sharing that you thought jazz was boring and unchanging, but throughout the course realized that jazz is process and has an extensive and changing history. I thought you did really well in outlining your previous view on improvisation, providing examples, and then sharing what you now know it is, and going into details on that. Your use of quotes throughout the blog is also good, and you cited them too, which is what Gary was looking for. Good job :)
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