Comments on: Elevator Music For The Ivory Tower http://www.patchchord.com/blog/2008/02/06/elevator-music-for-the-ivory-tower/ Tapdancing on the tabula rasa Wed, 23 Nov 2011 01:59:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: JAK http://www.patchchord.com/blog/2008/02/06/elevator-music-for-the-ivory-tower/comment-page-1/#comment-81 JAK Sat, 16 Feb 2008 18:33:29 +0000 http://www.patchchord.com/blog/2008/02/06/elevator-music-for-the-ivory-tower/#comment-81 Great points, UL. Definitely not saying that it's the academy that's stealing the soul of jazz, but rather those academics (critics, writers and -- in some cases -- the musicians themselves) that insist on talking about their art as if it is supposed to be out of reach of the common listener...that it's an acquired taste or special training is required to fully appreciate it. Screw that. Quite the contrary, the academy is probably the sole reason why jazz persists as an art today. I'm just continually disappointed that jazz's relevance to the mainstream has been lost. Then again, this year's Grammy Awards and Herbie Hancock's surprise win for Album of the Year shows that there is still hope. While the recognition is wonderful, it's Herbie's effort that should be applauded. Using a more contemporary songbook and enlisting the support of acclaimed and pop-oriented vocalists, Hancock reminds us all of the approachability the music can have without sacrificing anything along the way. Great points, UL. Definitely not saying that it’s the academy that’s stealing the soul of jazz, but rather those academics (critics, writers and — in some cases — the musicians themselves) that insist on talking about their art as if it is supposed to be out of reach of the common listener…that it’s an acquired taste or special training is required to fully appreciate it. Screw that.

Quite the contrary, the academy is probably the sole reason why jazz persists as an art today. I’m just continually disappointed that jazz’s relevance to the mainstream has been lost.

Then again, this year’s Grammy Awards and Herbie Hancock’s surprise win for Album of the Year shows that there is still hope. While the recognition is wonderful, it’s Herbie’s effort that should be applauded. Using a more contemporary songbook and enlisting the support of acclaimed and pop-oriented vocalists, Hancock reminds us all of the approachability the music can have without sacrificing anything along the way.

]]> By: the unthinking lemming http://www.patchchord.com/blog/2008/02/06/elevator-music-for-the-ivory-tower/comment-page-1/#comment-61 the unthinking lemming Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:39:27 +0000 http://www.patchchord.com/blog/2008/02/06/elevator-music-for-the-ivory-tower/#comment-61 Just to riff on some notes made by HIB(Brownlee) Herbie Hancock left the world of academics but one course shy of a degree in music at Grinnell. He was later given a degree honorarily. Cyrus Chestnut earned his degree in jazz composition at Berkely. Kevin Mahogany studied at Baker University. Wynton spent two years at Juilliard. It is not academics stealing the soul of jazz. Just to riff on some notes made by HIB(Brownlee)

Herbie Hancock left the world of academics but one course shy of a degree in music at Grinnell. He was later given a degree honorarily.

Cyrus Chestnut earned his degree in jazz composition at Berkely.

Kevin Mahogany studied at Baker University.

Wynton spent two years at Juilliard.

It is not academics stealing the soul of jazz.

]]> By: JAK http://www.patchchord.com/blog/2008/02/06/elevator-music-for-the-ivory-tower/comment-page-1/#comment-22 JAK Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:02:46 +0000 http://www.patchchord.com/blog/2008/02/06/elevator-music-for-the-ivory-tower/#comment-22 Ooh, yeah. Do send that my way. Ooh, yeah. Do send that my way.

]]> By: Ali http://www.patchchord.com/blog/2008/02/06/elevator-music-for-the-ivory-tower/comment-page-1/#comment-21 Ali Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:57:41 +0000 http://www.patchchord.com/blog/2008/02/06/elevator-music-for-the-ivory-tower/#comment-21 I'll have to send you a copy of this essay by poet Philip Larkin called "All What Jazz" in which he discusses this very thing quite compellingly. Can't find a copy online... He says academics make jazz (and poetry) that only they can understand, so you must pay them to explain it to you. Kind of a circle jerk, to continue your academic masturbation metaphor. I’ll have to send you a copy of this essay by poet Philip Larkin called “All What Jazz” in which he discusses this very thing quite compellingly. Can’t find a copy online… He says academics make jazz (and poetry) that only they can understand, so you must pay them to explain it to you. Kind of a circle jerk, to continue your academic masturbation metaphor.

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