So good, it hurts
For the last couple months, I have taken a very strong liking to jazz. For the first time in my life, really, and I don't know what spurred it on. Maybe it's kind of white noise to me w/ so much other noise; plus, when all of a sudden it's quiet, it's good filler music. In particular, I have been in awe of John Coltrane. "Equinox" was what got me hooked.
How life will be for me on any given day is really anybody's guess. Today was decent, then started to turn into not so decent. All of a sudden, I wanted to be by myself, so I sat here @ my computer and turned on good ole iTunes.
In my African-American history class today, my prof talked about jazz's roots in blues, Negro spirituals, sorrows songs, African lullabies... and how, being that jazz is mainly improvisational, it's like a dialog, in his words. Something about how the drums, the piano, the saxophone, all separate but coming together so nicely in conversation. Something about how you think there's a set pattern in the beginning of a song, then at the end, you can hardly recognize it. Something about how all the roots of jazz are so filled with pain, passion, a desire to go home.
How does this mix end up creating something so beautiful? I feel like jazz is one of the best expressions of life as I'm understanding it right now. Even now, listening to it has brought me such... not peace, well maybe a little... more like, a sense of home? Commonality? Whatever it is, it's deep for me, and it's good.
How life will be for me on any given day is really anybody's guess. Today was decent, then started to turn into not so decent. All of a sudden, I wanted to be by myself, so I sat here @ my computer and turned on good ole iTunes.
In my African-American history class today, my prof talked about jazz's roots in blues, Negro spirituals, sorrows songs, African lullabies... and how, being that jazz is mainly improvisational, it's like a dialog, in his words. Something about how the drums, the piano, the saxophone, all separate but coming together so nicely in conversation. Something about how you think there's a set pattern in the beginning of a song, then at the end, you can hardly recognize it. Something about how all the roots of jazz are so filled with pain, passion, a desire to go home.
How does this mix end up creating something so beautiful? I feel like jazz is one of the best expressions of life as I'm understanding it right now. Even now, listening to it has brought me such... not peace, well maybe a little... more like, a sense of home? Commonality? Whatever it is, it's deep for me, and it's good.
posted by Katie at
9:22 PM
2 Comments:
Jazz is best live. Blows your mind. :) Who knew improv music could sound so good, right?
I know! I envy the abandon and feel that jazz musicians have. Maybe, on a philosophical level ;), we're attracted to things that reflect life, and both improv and life are fairly unscripted... y'know?
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