Jazz at McDonald's!

[GA Russell]

For thirty years I have usually started my day at a fast food restaurant with a cup of coffee and the day's newspapers.

Twenty-five years ago my regular spot was the Burger King in Tucker (suburban Atlanta), Georgia. I called it the Jazz Burger King because over the sound system they played solid mainstream jazz! I remember one day hearing Horace Silver's Song for My Father, and telling everyone seated nearby that I grew up with that song.

For the past year I have lived in downtown Raleigh, and started the day at the McDonald's two blocks away. Since New Year's Day, they have played solid mainstream jazz over the sound system! I have heard a lot of Prestige Coltrane, and also songs from Cannonball's Somethin' Else a few times. And this morning I heard Horace Silver's Song for My Father!

We'll see how long this lasts. I made sure to tell the manager on duty how much I appreciate the music.

[7/4]

Last time I was at Staten Island Mall, I heard Charlie Parker (out in the mall). Check that shit out.

[CJ Shearn]

I heard the Pat Metheny Group's "Across the Sky" at the Poughkeepsie Galleria a few months back. I must have seemed like a weirdo humming the melody. As well as "All of You" from Round About Midnight at a Starbucks in NYC with my friend a few months as well. She likes jazz so I was showing off my knowledge a bit, hehe.

Edited January 14, 2014 by CJ Shearn

[BeBop]

Homeless, I spend a heap of time in public spaces - mainly hotels and restaurants, a few malls/stores. There's at least one "Muzak"-type station that programs mainstream stuff, including a heap of Blue Note; they play it at a couple of hotels I frequent. I've asked who chooses the music and no one seems to know. They seem to be oblivious, like it's totally in the background. I suppose doing eight hour shifts five days a week to Horace, Donald, Lee...

[marcello]

The McDonalds ay 160 Broadway in the Financial District has had live piano/bass duos for years, but I hear from Ron McClure, who has the gig for a long time, that's ending now.

[JSngry]

Bebop Big Mac.

'nuff said.

[Chuck Nessa]

Our son is a chef at upscale joints. A couple of years ago I was in one, sitting at the bar and heard music I knew. It was Benny Carter's Further Definitions, only I was hearing the right channel - the left was played in another room. The separation of the 4 saxophones was extreme.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

MG

[Hot Ptah]

I have heard jazz at many restaurants, coffee shops and stores in recent years. I have also noticed that non-jazz fans usually ignore the music.

Once I was having a business lunch with a quite intelligent, artistically sophisticated businessman. He is an enthusiastic donor and ticket buyer to many events in different genres of the arts. During a lull in our conversation, Charles Mingus' "Boogie Stop Shuffle" from "Mingus Ah Um" played over the restaurant's sound system. He had no reaction at all to it. It was as if we were sitting in silence. It occurred to me at this moment that my theory was wrong. I had imagined before that moment that jazz could become more popular if only music lovers and other bright people were exposed to it, that the problem was that many potential jazz fans had no opportunity to hear the music.

So I think that the use of mainstream jazz as background music in public places is of little consequence to virtually all people.

[BeBop]

My wife began to understand - but never really accepted - that I would often get distracted in public places by the music. We would walk into a bookstore and she would notice I'm "spacing out" (I'm thinking: "Hey, it's Hank...)

[paul secor]

It's cool to hear good music in public places, but I wouldn't go to a McDonald's if they played Louis, Bird, Cecil, Ellington, Pres, Roy, etc. all day long.

[BeBop]

As a very health-oriented, strict vegetarian/vegan, I have a lot of respect for McDonalds and all the experiements they had tried to get people to eat healthier - vegetarian and vegan "burgers", apples, carrots, lean beef (McLean), plain salads and a variety of other things outside the United States. The customers, on the other hand, have consistently resisted - forcefully - and so we end up where we are.

[etherbored]

'nuff said.

apparently not....

[Rooster_Ties]

Heard all of Pink Floyd's "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" in a used bookstore here in DC a few months ago.

Not jazz, but it was the highlight of my day!

[Chuck Nessa]

Heard all of Pink Floyd's "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" in a used bookstore here in DC a few months ago.

Not jazz, but it was the highlight of my day!

If you stayed that long I hope you bought a book or at least a coffee.

[7/4]

It's cool to hear good music in public places, but I wouldn't go to a McDonald's if they played Louis, Bird, Cecil, Ellington, Pres, Roy, etc. all day long.

Cheap coffee 'n' free wifi.

[jeffcrom]

I may have told this story here before, but a few years ago I went into my favorite pizza place in New Orleans for lunch. Much to my surprise, they were playing Miles Davis' Filles de Kilimanjaro album - not exactly easy-listening background music. I asked my young waitress who was responsible for picking the music; she got a "here we go again" look on her face and said, "I am." She lit up when I told her that it was one of my favorite albums. There had been several negative comments earlier, apparently.

[JSngry]

You know what they used to play at the McDonalds across the street from the bus terminal in downtown Dallas? Classical music. Why? Because it kept the thugs and bums away.

[Chuck Nessa]

I guess you stayed around. Is this a failure on their part?

[JSngry]

I took the bus! Then it came back!

[CraigP]

I guess you stayed around. Is this a failure on their part?

Oh, you beat me to it!

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

It's cool to hear good music in public places, but I wouldn't go to a McDonald's if they played Louis, Bird, Cecil, Ellington, Pres, Roy, etc. all day long.

YAY!

MG

[JSngry]

But seriously...the McDonalds/Classical thing was publicized, big time, in the local media. It was like McDonald's was Taking A Stand, Dallas, Save America, and all that.

So enjoy Horace Silver with the Filet O'Fish. It's all SAFE now.

[page]

It's cool to hear good music in public places, but I wouldn't go to a McDonald's if they played Louis, Bird, Cecil, Ellington, Pres, Roy, etc. all day long.

YAY!

MG

Me neither. Am allergic to the place. Besides that when I want chips, I want the real Flemish ones.

[Rooster_Ties]

Heard all of Pink Floyd's "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" in a used bookstore here in DC a few months ago.

Not jazz, but it was the highlight of my day!

If you stayed that long I hope you bought a book or at least a coffee.

I did! -- Second Story Books here in DC -- best used classical CD selelection of any store I've frequented in maybe forever.

I rarely get out of there spending any less than $50, mostly on music.