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Having a "Jazz Background" Has Become The Excuse For Incompetence

J

jtroska

Jan 14, 2010
238
19
54
fort lee new jersey nj
#1
I've experienced this several times. The weak link in the band will claim the reason he can't remember the 4 chords or keep time or whatever is because he is schooled in jazz and is used to doing things differently.

It's a brilliant defense because the rest of the band is supposed to think jazz is higher on the musical food chain than whatever rock, pop, metal (etc) the band is doing. So the weak link gets to rank supreme because he is all about jazz and... well, it's not him screwing up, it's you not understanding his higher art.

In the previous band, it was the guitar player. He couldn't get through a 3 Doors Down or Green Day song. But that was really because he was a brilliant jazz player who just couldn't think down to rock level. :rolleyes:

This time, it's the drummer. Can't count to 4 and end his fills on the 1. When I count it out on my fingers to demonstrate what we need, he gets all philosophical and ponders if there really is a definitive "1" in music.

I may be a rock and roller. But I'm a schooled rock and roller. You can't just play any old garbage and claim it's jazz. That B.S. doesn't fly with me. :scowl:
 
#2
jtroska said:
I've experienced this several times. The weak link in the band will claim the reason he can't remember the 4 chords or keep time or whatever is because he is schooled in jazz and is used to doing things differently.

It's a brilliant defense because the rest of the band is supposed to think jazz is higher on the musical food chain than whatever rock, pop, metal (etc) the band is doing. So the weak link gets to rank supreme because he is all about jazz and... well, it's not him screwing up, it's you not understanding his higher art.

In the previous band, it was the guitar player. He couldn't get through a 3 Doors Down or Green Day song. But that was really because he was a brilliant jazz player who just couldn't think down to rock level. :rolleyes:

This time, it's the drummer. Can't count to 4 and end his fills on the 1. When I count it out on my fingers to demonstrate what we need, he gets all philosophical and ponders if there really is a definitive "1" in music.

I may be a rock and roller. But I'm a schooled rock and roller. You can't just play any old garbage and claim it's jazz. That B.S. doesn't fly with me. :scowl:
Click to expand...

Sounds like a crock...try to check him out in a jazz context and see what happens.
 
#4
Yeah, in both cases sounds like the are full of it and themselves.
A good jazz player is used to memorize changes constantly and definitely knows where the 1 is.
These guys sound like they are posers because with what you are describing they wouldn't be able to last a rehearsal.
 
#7
jtroska said:
In the previous band, it was the guitar player. He couldn't get through a 3 Doors Down or Green Day song. But that was really because he was a brilliant jazz player who just couldn't think down to rock level. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I think they have the skill to play appropriately, but they can't get past their egos to actually put in the effort to play within the given context.

Or they just suck at jazz so they think they can torment so-called "lesser" forms of music with their pseudo-jazz wanking.
 
#8
jtroska said:
"Posers" is the perfect word. Would pay to see that guitarist stand in for an actual jazz gig--wearing his pretentious beret. The drummer is actually a nice guy. Just wish he'd learn to play as well as he talks.
Click to expand...

^This^

Jazz doesn't mean different. There is plenty of jazz that's in 4, and there is plenty of time-keeping done with purcussion and stringed instruments.

Poser would be a good word :)
 
#9
ReiPsaeg said:
I think they have the skill to play appropriately, but they can't get past their egos to actually put in the effort to play within the given context.
Click to expand...

There is some truth to that. I know I tend to underestimate the simple stuff and then screw it up more than the complex stuff. And if I thought these guys were real jazz players, I could totally relate to that. But more often than not, I think it's...

Or they just suck at jazz so they think they can torment so-called "lesser" forms of music with their pseudo-jazz wanking.
Click to expand...

^^this.
 
#14
Well, a jazz musician may not know the songs b/c he/she never played them or listened to them. But, there's no reason why they couldn't learn them. As for drummers, most of the good "jazz" drummers I know and went to school with, could play a jazz gig, then a rock gig, then country, etc. It didn't matter to them.

A few years ago, a band I was in was auditioning drummers. One came in and he didn't seem to know how to play at all. He would barely hit the drums or cymbals. He said it was b/c he was really a "metal" player. Well, most "metal" players I'm aware of didn't have a problem bashing the drums with force.
 
#20
You haven't heard about this before? It's absolutely true. I suck at rock because of my jazz training, I suck at jazz because of my classical training, and I suck at classical because of my rock training.

Fortunately I am excellent at inserting negative space into all genres.
 

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