Jazz quote?

March 23, 2005 8:14 AM

Quotefilter: I've been introducing my girlfriend to jazz lately and half-recalled a witty quote I read once about traditional jazz vs. avant garde jazz. More inside.

It went along the lines of "In traditional jazz, the musicians listen to each other, then play whatever they want. In avant garde jazz they don't listen to each, then play whatever they want." I think it was from a musician magazine. Anybody have any ideas as to what the exact quote is and who/where it came from?

posted by Dallasfilm to media & arts (5 comments total)

Was it Albert Ayler and was it from Down Beat Magazine?

"It's really free, spiritual music, not just free music. And as for playing it, other musicians worry about what they're playing. But we're listening to each other. Many of the others are not playing together, and so they produce noise. It's screaming, it's neo-avant-garde music. But we are trying to rejuvenate that old New Orleans feeling that music can be played collectively and with free form. Each person finds his own form."

I also found a really nice article that talks about laying down the groove and inviting people into that groove, intensity with soft music, and trusting the musicians you play with when improvising, really listening to them, and composing the same tune together. (Now you've gotten me more interested in getting into jazz music. Thanks!)
posted by Lush at 10:27 AM on March 23, 2005

Dallasfilm, I don't know the quote you want, sounds like Lush might have nailed it ... but last night, I bookmarked Photo Matt's Jazz quotes for future exploration. Don't know if it will be helpful in your quest, but if not, it's an interesting jazz resource.
posted by madamjujujive at 10:52 AM on March 23, 2005

Lush - that's not the exact quote I had in mind, but it's a good one all the same. Thanks especially to you and madamjujujive for the great resources - this is good reading! I'm thinking I'll probably never find that quote again - it was probably in the middle of some album review or article. Was just hoping some other MetaReader also came across it, enjoyed it, was smarter than me and wrote it down.
posted by Dallasfilm at 11:06 AM on March 23, 2005

I asked my dad (a musician and big avant-jazz aficionado) if he knew, but it will probably take him a couple of days to get back to me since he's an old man on dialup. Your email address isn't in your profile so check back here.
posted by matildaben at 12:37 PM on March 23, 2005

"But we are trying to rejuvenate that old New Orleans feeling that music can be played collectively and with free form"
There was nothing free about that old New Orleans jazz. They didn't just walk up there and start wailing. Then planned and arranged, and wailed only within a highly controlled musical setting.
posted by shambles at 1:56 PM on March 23, 2005