Jazz as background music?

[Rubimus]

Hello Everybody,

I am 16 years old and I have just discovered Jazz. A month ago i was listening to Jamie Cullum and I never thought that I could ever like Bill Evans. It is just since last friday that I put on music from Art Blakey and such, and I do it non stop.

So now for my question, i was wondering if you listen to jazz really intense and doing nothing else at the same time, or do you just put it on and start doing something else not really thinking about the music anymore.

I have found myself several times not even noticing the music but i'm not sure if that is a good or a bad thing.

comments are much appreciated

greetings
Jochem from Holland

[Tenorman]

I have music on in preference to the television at home, so yes it is often music as an accompaniment to something else, like cooking a meal.

But I do set aside time to listen specifically to music

[Vaughan]

There are as many ways to listen to music as there are types of music. Some musics suit different listen experiences, but all work in different ways.

One thing that bothers me about peoples reaction to Jazz - and I'm not talking about you here, but something I've heard a lot - is that jazz is SERIOUS music, intellectual music. This is so wrong, yet it seems to be a prevailing attitude.

Jazz can be fun and throwaway, and it can be heavy. The width and breadth of it is huge. Mostly Jazz is what you bring to it, what you want it to be. You can play it on the background, or you can examine it in minute sonic detail. Like a pool of water - you can swim around the surface, or you can take a deep dive to the bottom.

Like Tenorman, music replaces TV in my household. As such, music pervades everything. Sometimes I'm really listening, sometimes I'm examining the sound. I can be easily distracted. So I read while playing music, or do things on the computer. I read the booklets while listening, but you can't do that and do deep listening. And that's okay.

What I do know is that a Jazz recording will bring you a lifetime of enjoyment - it has many layers, interactions, and qualities. It's fathomless!

In fact, I'd say I have a bit of a secret. When I get a new CD, and play it for the first time, I'm not really listening too much. I let it wash over me. I determine then and there if I want to spend time with it or not. Is it appealing, does it have something I particularly like? Or am I put off? Right there on the first listen. If I enjoyed that first wash, I'll go back to it. if not, it gets filed for some other time (just because I don't like it NOW doesn't mean I won't like it THEN - after all, there was a reason I bought it in the first place).

Don't forget the likes of Brian Eno and his ambient works. Some of those are barely meant to be heard! They're there to fill in all the silent gaps in life, and to fade away at noisy times.

I strongly recommend you play your music loud, and soft. It's amazing how different a recording will sound when played loud, against when it's played soft. I got into Albert Ayler's Spiritual Unity at a very low volume - it helped untangle some of the knots.

There are no rules to listen to music - so do what works for you.

[Rubimus]

Thanks for the reactions. You clarified everything i was unsure about.

One thing that bothers me about peoples reaction to Jazz - and I'm not talking about you here, but something I've heard a lot - is that jazz is SERIOUS music, intellectual music. This is so wrong, yet it seems to be a prevailing attitude.

Do you mean, you don't have to be intellectual or serious to listen to jazz music or is jazz music itself not intellectual. As for the first statement, i couldn't agree more but i do believe jazz goes really deep theoratically.

Thanks again for the comments

[Tenorman]

You may see reviews and conversations on this site that go into a lot of detail about what chords were used (the changes) for a particular tune and whether or not it is superior to another version that uses different changes.

I don't have that theoretical background, although I did play regularily when I was younger, so I judge music on whether or not I like it. I don't attempt to analyse why.

Up to you. Jazz is all about improvisation so feel free to do as you wish - there is no right or wrong way to listen

[Vaughan]

Originally Posted by Rubimus

Thanks for the reactions. You clarified everything i was unsure about.



Do you mean, you don't have to be intellectual or serious to listen to jazz music or is jazz music itself not intellectual. As for the first statement, i couldn't agree more but i do believe jazz goes really deep theoratically.

Thanks again for the comments

What I meant was - Jazz isn't inherently cerebral music. There is amazingly complex Jazz, and some rather simple Jazz too. It seems overall that people find it a bit stuffy, abstract, and difficult. But Jazz can be fun too, and needn't demand dedicated attention and keen attention to detail.