Many Americans have difficulty listening to modern jazz (from bebop on). My experience playing in Europe is that audiences are typically more sophisticated, possibly because they are used to listening to complex music. A few pointers may help people get more acquainted with this music, which can be very enjoyable and rewarding.
First, rhythm is basic. Listen to the drums. Jazz is multi-dimensional, but the basis is still the syncopated swing and Latin feels that fuel the improv. Next, listen to how the bass and drums play together-the two instruments create the rhythm together.
There is usually a comping chord instrument-piano, guitar, or vibes. "Comping" is short for accompaniment. This is where the harmony is laid out, though usually without the roots of the chords on the bottom (leaving that to the bass). The accompaniment responds to the soloist as well as the rhythm section and fills in some of the spaces.
The lead instrument is whoever is improvising or playing the theme (the "head") at the time. This is what most people hear the most, since it's what is out front of the sound, and where the melodic invention is occurring. The improvisation is usually occurring over a repeating chord structure-in show tunes, often 32 bars, for example. This is how everyone can play together-they are all changing chords at the same time (or trying to!). So the typical solo is melodic variations on a set of chords.
As you become more adept at listening to this type of music, you probably will become a better critic also-after all it may be that if you are bored or lost or otherwise unmoved by a performance it may be the performers' fault. The greatness of Miles Davis, for example, lay partly in his ability to play less than most-the pauses were as important as the notes he chose. John Coltrane, on the other hand, created solos full of huge numbers of notes but also conveyed great emotion. Unfortunately, many jazz players try to play like Coltrane but don't scale the same emotional heights. Jazz is like any other music in that the goal of the performer is communication-not just admiration at the player's ability, but a combination of emotional and cerebral satisfaction.
What's great about jazz is that it reaches the more physical, rhythmic aspects of us, the emotional level, and the more cerebral level of appreciating the melodic inventions. Frequently for the price of a small cover charge and a few drinks!
David Widelock is a jazz guitarist who would love it if you visit his web site at
http://beegumrecords.com/
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