Robert Parker

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There is much debate these days on ownership of this genre. I just love the sound of the word Jazz. I love listening in on those moments of unplanned brilliance. If I'm playing with other players, I love the mutual trust and support. For myself, the core of Jazz is not what WAS played, but in the NOW moment of chance-centric music being played, and the reactions to those experiencing it. That shared moment of creation and consumption. But is it still jazz without the interaction of a living audience (The tree in the forest)? Is it still Jazz if there is no chance involved (thorough-composed)? Is it only Jazz when improvisation is firmly grounded in the musical dialect grounded in Blues and further developed in a certain couple of decades? Or because J.S. Bach improvised heavily, was he a Jazz Musician? My advice to new listeners is to have an open mind and navigate past what makes you feel good, give anything new a couple of listens so you can also expand your appreciation for improvisation. Don't look for perfection in solo's, listen for inspiration. You will hear easy/smooth Jazz players utilizing the fruits of the musicians who honestly put it all out there (the good, bad and ugly). Once you understand that, the canned playback of the originator's brilliant creative moments will be less appealing and you'll find yourself mining for the original creators to hear the birth of the words used in this language. I was first exposed to jazz...on late night radio and first heard Jimmy Smith on his Hammond in the next door neighbors driveway at the age around 12 or 13. Being a player, I have met my share of well known musicians over the years and each one provided a bit of illumination or inspiration. Some of my favorite shows included seeing the original Return to Forever ensemble, Bill Evans (a special moment when I spontaneously laughed during a funny musical quote, he looked up directly at me - I really want to believe that, and smiled - never met him close up, but that was better), Ramsey Lewis Trio - Ramsey brought me back to piano from the Hammond, Billy Childs with String Quartet, Peter Sprague with String Quartet and Vocals the last two composers and performers are some the finest of our times. The first jazz record I bought was probably a hybrid R & B, like Jr. Walker and the All Stars, Ramsey Singles and Albums (wade in the water), Jimmy Smith and eventually Miles - Kind of Blue (which is still in tight rotation in my head years after the Album, yes vinyl was stolen)

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