Give me your one sentence definition of jazz.

[Hardbopjazz]

This was a question someone asked me this morning. My answer was, “Art as you go.”

[Guest Chaney]

I've always liked: The sound of surprise.

[JSngry]

Whatever the hell it feels like being!

[A Lark Ascending]

Nice!

[jazzbo]

I want to just say "Music that I love."

I could be persuaded to say "Music that I love, born of alleys both tin pan and funky." . . . or something like dat.

[couw]

reply: give me your one sentence definition of pop/rock/blues/classic/whatever and then we'll talk.

if the answer is a lot of erms and ahs, play some music to kill the time waiting; preferably some jazz.

Edited March 23, 2004 by couw

[Rooster_Ties]

reply: give me your one sentence definition of pop/rock/blues/classic/whatever and then we'll talk.

I thought you were gonna say "anything but Miles Davis".

[clifford_thornton]

I like hardbopjazz' definition, actually.

They're all just words that really have nothing to do with the feeling generated by whatever aesthetic experience one is having. Whether language has any business in aesthetics is an age-old debate. I, personally, can make better sense of terms like "creative music" for jazz and "specific objects" for non-representational painting and sculpture, but that's just me.

[Free For All]

Financially unfeasible.

[Hardbopjazz]

Financially unfeasible.

Yeah, and how sad. If there was money in this art, there would be mroe cats recording or signed to record.

[JSngry]

There's always the "if you have to ask..." tact.

[gdogus]

I like Monk's response: "Jazz is freedom - now, you think about that."

[BruceH]

How about: "Music that swings, and includes some element of improvisation."

Like most single-sentence definitions, especially of jazz, it begs more questions than it answers.

"The sound of surprise" and "Jazz is freedom" are fine with me also.

How about: "The opposite of Kenny G"?

[patricia]

The door opens and suddenly, you know what passion really is.

[Brandon Burke]

Jezz guys .... It's hard enough with an unlimited amount of words. Now only one sentence?!

Listen....using one language (verbal) to describe another (instrumental) is next to impossible. Rather like giving directions to the nearest gas station in heiroglyphics or explaining the "big bang" theory using signs from a first base coach.

Let's get in the game people.....

[RDK]

There's always the "if you have to ask..." tact.

That's the one I always go for. I've heard it attributed to Armstrong; does anyone know exactly where it came from?

[RDK]

Jezz guys .... It's hard enough with an unlimited amount of words. Now only one sentence?!

Let's make it even harder. What's your *one word* definition of jazz?

[RDK]

I'd have to say that "jazz" pretty much sums up exactly what it is.

[.:.impossible]

Jazz, its what's for dinner.

[7/4]

Jazz, its what's for dinner.

[BruceH]

"Yum"

[SGUD missile]

"We'll know it when we hear it ..and our "its" may differ ..depending upon your driving habits "

[neveronfriday]

I think it was Supreme Court Judge Potter who once gave this fabulous definition of pornography: "I know it when I see it!" (I think he needed several months to come to that conclusion).

"I know it when I hear it," would be my suggestion then.

Cheers!

[GregK]

Bitchen'!!!!

[Brad]

"It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing."