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Double Bass Why isn't Jazz that popular? (DB forum thread)

G

gai113

Apr 25, 2008
866
7
#1
I'm just wondering why Jazz really isn't as popular as other music as far as mainstream is concerned..

Don't get me wrong i know a lot f people love jazz.. But i think you understand what I'm asking here...

Is it because a lot of jazz is too sophisticated for normal people to listen to? I often find people say jazz is boring and doesn't really do anything besides put them to sleep..

Again I know plenty of people love Jazz but I'm trying to understand why its appeal really is so low in mass audience...
 
#4
There's many genres with the category known as Jazz. Even considering all styles or genres of jazz as one category, you find that most music listeners gravitate away from it-toward pop, rock, classical, hip-hop or other music as evidenced by jazz music's current market share.

As a studied, or open-minded musician-assuming you are, you've got the potential for a whole different set of listening skills for jazz (or other music made by several instruments) than the average non-musician. As they say, you'll hear it different. Younger, less sophistocated, or non-musician listeners often prefer music with simple, elementary rhythms, or other repetitive types of songs that will be apart from sophisticated jazz as some types of this category are known.
 
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#9
IMHO you have to "listen" to jazz, you can't just "hear" it. In today's world of 15 second soundbites and canned music I don't think people take time to listen anymore.

+1 to lack of education in schools and a decline in funding for the arts in general. If it doesn't generate a return on investment right out of the gate it isn't going to get the backing of the machine.

We're all being programmed to stop thinking on our own and just accept what the machine spits out.
 
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#12
HunterBrodt said:
Hahahaha, you're listening to ****** jazz then. Listen to Branford Marsalis and tell me it lacks edge and direction.
Click to expand...

He probably won't be back. If he does come back, he'll see what you posted, respond by saying that he has heard Branford and found him lacking in direction and egde. The Internet is a game for some, a resource for others.

You've responded to the former.
 
#14
At one time jazz got a much larger percentage of radio airtime than it does today (which for all intents and purposes is nil), so Joe Public got exposed to it. Now, they'll almost never hear it. Hence the loss of understanding and appreciation.
Also, the majority of jazz is non-vocal, and Joe public has not been exposed to solely instrumental music (pop, rock) since the 60s. Hence the inability to actually listen and discern a melody.
 
#17
Auriaprottu said:
He probably won't be back. If he does come back, he'll see what you posted, respond by saying that he has heard Branford and found him lacking in direction and egde. The Internet is a game for some, a resource for others.

You've responded to the former.
Click to expand...

The internet can be a game or a resource, true. It can also be a device to allow people to make snarky comments from the safety of their homes. You being the latter.
 
#18
Smooth Jazz ?
Contemporary Jazz ?
Swing Jazz ?
Cool Jazz ?
Acid Jazz ? .......

The list goes on . There is a huge difference between genres too, I must say however that it is frustrating listening to people blow on about Slash , The Edge etc when there are guys out there in the " jazz " scene that could piss over those guys blind drunk . I suppose my favourite is contempoary Jazz , I usually look for the players rather than the bands guys like Alex Al , Nathan East , Will Lee , Marcus Miller etc .... guys who can play with almost anyone and really nail a groove . There is no such thing as the perfect album though , but some of the stuff out by guys like Jeff Lorber , Fourplay , Mezzoforte , Acoustic Alchemy etc is top notch as far as production and groove goes , I also like the distinct lack of vocals !. I must say that smooth Jazz does have some great players but its usually spoiled by too much Sax , turns a great groove into a Porno track or department store music .
 
#19
Maybe the audiences are bored and feel disconnected from whats going on musically. Sometimes the music can feel like its more exclusively about the musicians rather than the inclusive communal aspect of music.

Just because an artform is advanced, doesnt mean its popularity is guaranteed.

One enduring criticism I have heard from "laypeople" is that it all sounds the same. A criticism which I have learned a lot from.
 

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