Oscars

[patricia]

You're right, AfricaBrass.  But, in a way, jazz has made itself an elitist artform. 

Sometimes those newbies who have just discovered the magic of jazz are put off by the navel-gazing that they see many jazz musicians and longtime aficiados doing.  Not understanding the nuances of the artform is not a weakness.  It's fixable in time, if those who could help them see the total spectrum would just do that, mentor them.

I don't see a solution, because "accessable" quite often is wheeling in the dreaded Kenny G. 

There are many veteren jazzers, such as Oscar Peterson and others who have been great ambassadors, trying to spread the joy of jazz to the masses, but I fear that there is much of what I can only interpret as an unwillingness to share this most precious jewel we all know and love.

Good point, Patricia.

Even though I'm a musician myself; I still have a hard time understanding what I'm SUPPOSED to be listening for in jazz. That's why I don't participate in a lot of jazz criticism. I LOVE the music, but sometimes I feel like there's some hip secret I'm not in on. I think I know what I'm listening to and for, but I know it's tough for someone new to the music.

Okay... I'm guilty of a little too much navel gazing, but I'm all for sharing this artform with all. I appreciate ANYONE who does so.

Regarding the Oscars: If I was going to watch an award show, I'd watch this one.

As I keep saying, my only sadness is that people revere celebrities too much. I've seen shows where people are getting surgery to look like their favorite star. I just wish everyone could see their own value and not put stars on such high pedastals. There's absolutely nothing wrong, IMO, with respecting someone for their great work, but celebrity oftentimes seems to trump craft.

Thank you AfricaBrass. I just think that encouraging new listeners of jazz to feel jazz and enjoy it for it's beauty does not necessarily mean that the new listener should feel that they must understand the technical aspects of it's production.

More than once, while talking to jazz musicians I have gotten the impression that if I don't understand what is involved in producing the sounds and rhythms, that the sheer joy I feel in listening to the music is not enough.

I would compare their attitude to that of many of my fellow photographers who get hung up on the technical aspects of the process and lose sight of what the goal is. The goal is producing a picture that will be enjoyed at many levels, regardless of whether they understand how it's done or what I saw when I shot it.

The goal in both endeavors is to show the listener or observer what is at the very basis for them and that is the joy that can be had by them. That's why the artforms exist. Without the listener or the observer, there is no point. Everyone gets something different out of the art and that is, ultimately it's beauty.

Edited March 1, 2005 by patricia

[AfricaBrass]

I agree Patricia.

Art isn't very enjoyable when it's locked in a vault; it's meant to be shared.

[patricia]

Which makes me think of how much trepidation film makers must feel when they let their "baby" go out into the world, not knowing whether we will see what they did when they originally came up with the concept of their film. Their job is finished when the film is and their enjoyment was in producing it. The added value is in the audience's reaction to it.

There we are, regular people walking around, passing judgement on their life's work.

I suppose it could be compared to any free lancer who depends on the opinions of those who can't do what they do to admire their work enough to go to the theatre and see it and, more importantly like it.

The stress must be almost unimaginable. The handful of films which are widely seen and appreciated are only a tiny number compared to all the films which are released in an average year. The film makers who produce and release the lesser films work their buttocks off, with few exceptions, as much as the acclaimed ones do and almost never are recognized as great artists.

Kind of sad, really.

Edited March 1, 2005 by patricia

[chris olivarez]

I don't watch the show and I haven't for years. I find the whole process-especially the self congratulatory aspects of it-far to excruciating for my liking.