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+1 This pretty much says it all. Even if it seem like the audience has no listening skills (and many people just perceive music as background noise anyway) they are listening on some level and seem to be able to well gauge music being played well based on their responses.
All the more reason to give 100% to any musical endeavor.
But I can also see this from the point of view of the Jazz fan or audience member who loves Jazz as an Art Form, that has value,meaning and is a big part of 20/21st Century culture.
I can see some Jazz as works of art on a par with Da Vinci,Michelangelo,Mozart,Beethoven etc. etc.
So when I see classical music used to advertise products on TV it feels "debased" and I can see a similar view of Jazz used as "musical wallpaper" ....it's taking something I love and respect and removing the meaning and value ...
I don't know that I agree with the last bit, that I've turned on the bold text. If a Michelangelo or a Da Vinci is hung in the lobby of a Howard Johnson's - is it suddenly not a thing of beauty? I know it could be argued that fine art should be displayed in respectful, if not
reverent, surroundings. Personally I feel that the brilliant thing about it (art, music...) is that it can transport your mind and emotions somewhere beautiful, no matter the dull, mundane, horrible conditions of day to day life.
It's nice seeing that stuff at the Louvre. I think it's even nicer having it sneak up on you, when you really need it.
So maybe that applies to your hotel lobby/rest home cocktail parties - maybe it doesn't. Maybe that's the trick - how do you play all the usual stuff that people expect to hear, and make it sound like you're not just wallpaper. Or maybe the trick is to eschew what everybody thinks you're supposed to play - and play what you genuinely think people will dig. Or just ignore the question altogether - and play your butts off...
I like your thinking. Beautiful art shouldn't just be reserved for the sacred halls of the museum, it should be more available in everyday life. What's wrong with that concept? Isn't one of the ideals of art to make the world a little more beautiful? That's how I feel anyway.
Agreed and I see where you guys are coming from. In theory the act of having music be sonic wallpaper is not necessarily debasing it however sometimes the players that get hired for these gigs are the guilty party.
Not that it pertains specifically to this but this Mingus quote is always rattling around in my head Once you achieve technical facility, youre either a musician or youre not. Youre either a creative person or a stenographer.
Not that it pertains specifically to this but this Mingus quote is always rattling around in my head Once you achieve technical facility, youre either a musician or youre not. Youre either a creative person or a stenographer.
Schlock is schlock, whether it's music, food, carpentry, or whatever.
I've said it before around here: music is like food in a lot of ways. People need it, always will. Just because you're serving up hash in a diner doesn't mean it has to suck. Make it with love, the best way you know how, and you'll be in business. Turn out schlock and that's what you'll get back.
I've said it before around here: music is like food in a lot of ways. People need it, always will. Just because you're serving up hash in a diner doesn't mean it has to suck. Make it with love, the best way you know how, and you'll be in business. Turn out schlock and that's what you'll get back.
OK I have to confess, I accept every «jazz» gig that is offered to me. I am a 100% whore. And I also accept every photo retouching and illustrations that is offered to me (it's my primary job), I guess that's make me a whore, point final.
But wait, I see you coming, I won't accept everything....
But wait, I see you coming, I won't accept everything....
I don't think there's any argument here, from a personal point of view - I love playing music and always try and give my best!
But I know I've heard musicians in places like hotels and restaurants etc., supposedly playing "Jazz" - where to my ears, what they were playing was just easy listening pap...?
My view is that this then makes people think that Jazz is something bland and anodyne - whereas, when I go to my local Jazz club, what I hear is exciting, often groundbreaking and with high levels of creativity and musicianship!!
I feel it's a shame if the general public take away the view that the great stuff we know as Jazz is misrepresented by those who are just going through the motions...
Maybe they were instructed to keep it light. Did you ever think of that?
Some of those same people would probably think jazz played with "high levels of creativity and musicianship" is just obnoxious and boring. Besides haven't you ever seen guys go from playing gigs like you describe to more "bland and anodyne" gigs? I know some folks like that personally, they are called WORKING MUSICIANS!
I feel it's a shame if the general public take away the view that the great stuff we know as Jazz is misrepresented by those who are just going through the motions...
The problem is you can't please all the people all of the time. A great deal of people now days don't have an interest in jazz. It has nothing to do with players in a hotel "going through the motions." Last school year, I was substitute teaching for a music class and I played some Brad Mehldau and one kid looked at me and said "why are you playing elevator music " all because there was the sound of the piano. Sure, one or two kids genuinely liked it, but more of the students didn't like it or were indifferent. That's just the way it is, it's not the music most people easily relate to. Even Coltrane talked about this.
It's easy for a hobbyist to type on an internet forum how jazz is supposed to be played. It's another to try and make a living with your musical skills, all of a sudden things turn from black and white to different shades of gray.
You don't think the association of piano jazz with elevators, restaurants, and hotel lobbies has anything to do with that?
Well that presumably is a very rude dig at my expense - hey thanks for the respect, man!!
I have never told anybody how they should play and you ought to have more respect for me if you are actually a Jazz musician, as I am paying your wages!!
I am a big Jazz fan and pay to go to many gigs each year and
pay for many CDs - hey I even shelled out for Ed's Book and CD!!
But I think I am entitled to my opinion about what I like and what I don't like and to talk about it on a forum that is designed for that purpose!
I know I'll never make a living at playing Jazz and very few people I know do nowadays - but it won't stop me preferring Coltrane's music to "Dinner Jazz"
- just because some of it might me difficult or hard to get into!! 
I have played my best at Jazz festivals over the summer and have always tried my hardest - even when the crowd really wanted some "Rawk!!"
It's not disrespect, I'm just calling it as I see it. I'm just saying it's not so black and white and when a person is in a certain situation it's not so easy to see the other side.
Maybe it does, I can't really say, but I hear a lot more of that new agey piano music in elevators and hotel lobbies. I don't think many middle school kids are going to restaurants where people play diner jazz. All I know is that I don't see as many people relating to jazz now. And that's been a trend since Bebop came on to the scene.
Hell, the first time my girlfriend heard Bill Evans she said "it sounds like shopping center music." Jazz for good or ill has been made the background music for our daily lives. It has no lyrics, therefore it's in offensive and can easily be tuned out.
Was the kid's name "Damon"?
Hey!!
And another thing: I play dinner jazz. At least, I've been known to play jazz while people are eating. As I said before, it doesn't have to suck. You don't have to phone it in.
Would I play balls-out Coltrane-blessed cutting edge kick-ass jazz for these folks eating dinner? (Assuming I could, of course.) But, no, of course not; people don't come for that at the places I play. But a good selection of standard tunes -- they don't have to be the same old same old, there are hundreds of tunes fer chrissakes -- played by musicians who are taking some pride in their playing and soloing -- there's nothing to be ashamed of in that.
And there's absolutely NO NECESSITY to equate "dinner music" with schlocky muzak sh*te. If somebody does make that equation in a knee-jerk, unthinking way, well -- I question their judgment.
