[Dixielandjazz] Return of the dreaded "What is Jazz" thread

[Burt Wilson]

I'm convinced that jazz is whatever Paul Edgerton says it is. Personally, I
like jass.

Burt Wilson



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Edgerton, Paul A" <paul.edgerton at eds.com>
To: "DJML" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Monday, August 25, 2003 10:15 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Return of the dreaded "What is Jazz" thread


> Jim Beebe wrote:
> "The St. Louis blues was written to be a popular song.  Most songs that
are
> used in jazz were written to be pupular songs.
> When a jazz musician plays them they become jazz. It's fairly
> simple...nothing difficult about it at all."
>
> Leaving aside for now the question of what is a "pupular" song, let's look
> at the proposition that jazz is music played by jazz musicians. Say for
the
> moment that's true. Now then, is it jazz when a jazz musicians records a
> film score? What about when he does a commercial soundtrack. How about
when
> a bunch of recognized jazz horn players overdub a rock and roll record?
>
> At moments like this I recall a comment made by trombonist and educator
Paul
> Tanner at a roundtable discussion sponsored by the National Association of
> Jazz Educators: "I can't tell you exactly what jazz is, but I'm perfectly
> capable of finding something wrong with any definition you might propose."
>
> Well okay, I'm working from memory here, and I have probably
misrepresented
> Mr. Tanner's actual words, but the idea is fitting. Jazz beauty is in the
> mind of the beholder. I think it's safe to say that Jazz music is played
by
> jazz musicians, but it's not very helpful. Do any non-jazz musicians play
> jazz?
>
> I guess jazz is a lot like smut: you'll recognize it when you see (hear)
it.
>
> If any of you want to fight (that is, argue) with me about this, I'll be
> available at Sweet & Hot. At least I will be when I'm not harassing Dick
> Broadie or Gordon of Northridge. And Jim, I'm not really picking on you --
> but thanks for the convenient springboard.
>
> Paul Edgerton
> Who, come to think of it, might also be playing with the Fulton Street
Jazz
> Band between bouts.
>
>
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