I like it, but is it jazz?

OLDUDE

New member
Going back to sept 02 (yes I've been on holiday).
I dont know whether my inclusion of Courtney Pine in my post was misunderstood by anyone,
but the reality is that I find his music (?) to be awful and not to be considered as real (likeable) jazz.
Is it possible that anyone could like his stuff?
Now to Jools Holland - I dont particularly care for his Big Band (too commercialised fro me) but his
piano playing ability cant be questioned and the boogie samples are great.
I must now try to find another questionable jazz person and I would like to present Andre Previn for
comment.
 
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stu

New member
Welcome back John. (you have been missed. I was going to mention your whereabouts....honest! I was!)
I have never really been able to figure out Courtney Pine's music. I quite liked it when he first started out, but I have to admit defeat now.

Mike, I quite enjoyed the Holland tracks, especially the first one.
 

JHC

Chief assistant to the assistant chief
I must now try to find another questionable jazz person and I would like to present Andre Previn for
comment.
Andre Previn is a good all rounder i,e Pianist and classical conductor I really have nothing against him.
 

OLDUDE

New member
Sorry Colin,
I dont like his jazz piano much, perhaps too much of the classical shows (for me anyway)
 

stu

New member
Andre Previn, I feel, was a very accomplished jazz pianist. He recorded some excellent albums with drummer Shelley Manne in a trio format. (My Fair Lady, West Side Story, Gigi) Also with others, and solo albums.
He started his musical life as a jazz pianist, plus, I feel, many of the Harmonics in jazz were to be found in European classical music.
 
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JHC

Chief assistant to the assistant chief
He was a good trio pianist but I do not have 1 jazz piece with him on afaik. He was perhaps better known in the classical world
 

JHC

Chief assistant to the assistant chief
That is the man I remember so I will upgrade him from good to very good
 

stu

New member
In my opinion Mary Lou William was an excellent creative jazz player. My hang up here on this one is the plodding bumpety bump backdrop. Mary Lou doesn't need that syrupy stuff. :eek:
She would have sounded just fine playing it solo.
 

JHC

Chief assistant to the assistant chief
Agree with stu about backing with Mary Lou but I thought Marsalis was OK
 

OLDUDE

New member
I often agree with you Colin, but not this time. Mike has it right.
I'm not sure his brother Branford is any better.
 

JHC

Chief assistant to the assistant chief
What is the matter with you lot ?? It was played in the high register which is hard on any wind instrument, he never missed a beat, the whole thing swings like crazy, he muffed not one note (that I could detect) and is a great technician that would have been right at home in the Kenton band :shake::shake:
 

Mat

Sr. Regulator
Staff member
Sr. Regulator
Regulator
I get what you mean Mike , but I think the example here from Youtube falls into your category - "Is it jazz?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNcYSsM7670&feature=player_detailpage

But what about Wynton Marsalis - is the following stuff jazz, or is it just noise on a trumpet?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=bl3hIjAHicI

I am surprised (well, not all that surprised, really) that you even have to ask, John. I get it that you might not like that kind of music, but calling it noise is just harsh. And his solo wasn't even that far from mainstream. If you want noise then type Die Like a Dog into the youtube searchbox and click on the first result that comes up. Now, that is noise to me. And despite that, there's still people who will call it free jazz.

It all really boils down to what Teddy had already said: where does jazz start and where does it finish? I think it goes far beyond that Marsalis track.
 
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