THINQon : I don't like Jazz; what does that say about me?

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Ximena Ramos

I don't like Jazz; what does that say about me?

Latest Post: March 8, 2011 at 6:46 PM

16 followers

I'm trying to see if a different point of view can help me understand where I am coming from, because I don't understand myself sometimes. But here we go.

I don't like Jazz.

No, I am not one of those people whose excuse is, "I don't understand it...etc. etc."

Quite the contrary actually. I played lead alto in a jazz band for 5-6 years from middle school to high school, took private lessons, studied it's history, forms, styles, improvised, went to jazz competitions, won awards for my school, and the like.

After high school, I stopped, and I all of a sudden couldn't stand listening to the genre. I think part of the reason is that I got accepted to a school to study Jazz performance, but due to personal reasons, I decided not to go. That kind of killed it for me. But I've gotten over that now, but not my dislike for the genre.

What is my beef with Jazz? To put it simply, it doesn't speak to me. I can listen to almost any type or style of jazz, but I get no emotion out of it and quickly grow bored with it. Early blues, big band or swing prior to the 1940's is enjoyable, but even that doesn't hold my attention for long. After having played Jazz for nearly 7 years, I can appreciate its art and history, but I would prefer to listen to classical music. It's what dominates my music library; from chants of the Medieval Period, to music of the Baroque Period, Classical, 19th Century and the 20th century. I also have a lot of instrumental genres, such as film scores, anime scores and post-rock instrumental, that includes artists such as Balmorhea, This Will Destroy You, God is an Astronaut and Japanese instrumental such as Mono and World's End Girlfriend. I listen to Japanese Rock, orchestral music and non-mainstream rock music, (though I do indulge in popular hits from the 90's.)

Currently, I'm also deep into Western music history, currently taking three university classes on Western music history that together cover it's origins to the present.

So, why is it that when I get to Jazz, my mind completely drops off and I lose interest? I'm not trying argue why I don't like something, but to understand what this says about me; am I less cultured or less intellectual? Why is it for instance, that some people love jazz, but can't stand classical. (For those who love both, why?) Is it a technical perspective, i.e. the chords and sounds? The improvisation? The ideas? Or is it an emotional aspect? I'm just trying to shed a little light on this, and simply try to get some new insight.

Reply to:

Anita Hoffmann

March 7, 2011 at 10:28 PM

10 followers

Hi Ximena,

I found your post very interesting and quite hard to answer. I was myself very interested in Jazz about ten years ago and now lost completely the interest except for some jazz singers who find their way to make me feel emotions. Most of the Jazz I used to listen to a lot and love seems a bit empty to me now and I can't put my finger on the exact reason. I suppose we could try and analyze the bases and requirement that make instrumental jazz less strong emotionally for certain people. It could be (and is very probable) that this music's priority lies somewhere else, and not necessarily in emotions. Just like the baroque times did not quite express emotions in the same way as the romantics.

Here is for example the great Fats Waller. As his name is, so is his music- full of fun and life.

Even in his famous “Ain't misbehaving”, where he sings about love- he still does it like a big funny clown.

When Ella sings the same it is quite different :

Though they are both singing the same song and both are jazz musicians- it still feels like their aims are not quite the same. To get back to your question, I don't know what it says about you. Maybe your taste has changed and you don't appreciate Jazz because it holds no more mystery for you. Every style has its own history and our relation to each of them depends on many factors.

Reply to: or

Julie Sabatier

March 7, 2011 at 11:08 PM

27 followers

It is a hard question and I'm not sure I know enough about music to write something here. However, I just browsed through and found this fascinating post by Gregory about the lack of feeling and lack of passing chords, which I think will interest you, Ximena, and maybe even shed some light on your subject as well.

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susan Smith

March 8, 2011 at 4:20 PM

3 followers

There is no debating taste. The genre called "jazz" is so broad that to lump it all together under this term ignores how personal the experience of jazz is for both artist and listener. I am a classically trained harpist who crossed the Rubicon into Jazz over 30 years ago...long before it was respectable. The real switch was into improvisation, composition, and spontaneous performance. The emotional switch was giving up the predictability of a known "perfect" for a "perfect" that was not nor ever would be fixed. The technical switch was about gaining infinite control over my instrument, having a far deeper knowledge based of music in practice, and a performing experience that would continually challenge me.

I also have my own likes and dislikes. I am not moved by intellectual jazz or atonal contemporary classical music. I have played both. I respect it. It does not engage my heart. I am not moved by Mozart played "correctly," but only Mozart elevated to yet new heights of expression. I listen more deeply or not at all.

I am not sure your current dislike of jazz is about jazz at all. It may be that you "know too much." But, there is no need to question your experience. Or anyone else's. What happens inside the musical experience is all that could have happened...at that moment, for that listener, for that artist....