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You Need To Calm Down
Chip Boaz
Label: Self Produced
Released: 2019
Views: 454
Tracks
You Need To Calm Down.
Personnel
Album Description
I've always thought that jazz needs to simultaneously build off tradition and constantly reinvent itself. Jazz musicians need to be deeply rooted in the music's history and fierce advocates of the tradition. At the same time, we need to find new songs, different approaches, and sincere connections to the modern world. It's a lot to think about, but it defines this music's place in the world. The answer to this balance lies in the history of jazz, and the origin of our beloved canon of jazz standards. The Great American Songbook didn’t come from the minds of jazz musicians - at least, not completely. Beboppers looked to the popular music of the time, which largely came from Broadway musicals and movies. They re-harmonized the music, added some jazz articulations, improvised madly, and put a personal spin on the music. Decades later, we’ve got a wealth of standards that continue to be played at every jazz jam session - and it all started with pop music. Based on history, we should be looking to pop music for new songs to fuel the jazz tradition. It’s a different world now, and popular music has split into so many different directions. So where should we start looking? The top of the charts, of course. Taylor Swift has become a pop music icon and her music owns the charts. She consistently delivers catchy songs with slick production, powerful lyrics, and a sharply focused image. Her latest release, Lover, has given us a number of unforgettable pop delicacies. One of my favorites, “You Need To Calm Down”, is a pop anthem with a great groove, smart lyrics, and a strong message. But it’s not jazz. And you know what? That’s OK. This is the moment where we can build off tradition and reinvent the future. We can take the melody of “You Need To Calm Down” and put jazz harmony underneath. We can make the groove swing and bump the tempo to a fiery pace. We can open the song up to improvisation and tell new stories upon that foundation. At the end of the process, we’ve got Taylor Swift AND we’ve got jazz - we’re walking that line between worlds where magic happens. It was a magical experience to bring these worlds together - something that I hope to do more in the future. The jazz tradition is important to me and I take my responsibility to the music very seriously. But I live in 2019 and I’ve got to find a way to connect that tradition to the modern world. Hopefully this is a step in the right direction, into a future where beboppers, Swifties, and music lovers everywhere can experience the magic of jazz. Enjoy!
Album uploaded by Michael Ricci
