It was two hours later, trying to decide whether my snakeyes should count for my "1's" or the chance roll, that I realized I'd programmed the CD on repeat. I also realized that I was hearing melodies--strange, surreal, unique melodies, but melodies all the same. What fun, even exhilarating music! Then I further realized that my wife, without even realizing it, was moving her neck and shoulders to the swing rhythms I'd noticed before.
Boom! Story #2 hit like a ton of bricks.
When you put music on repeat and then ignore it, it's not that you're not listening to it; not really. What you're doing is letting it seep into your subconscious, and that is what does the processing for you. Or, if you like, gut instinct.
Moral:
Understanding that free-jazz musicians know what they're doing is crucial. It allows you to realize that the chaos you seem to be hearing is deliberate, and gives you an in--after all, if there's a method to the madness, you can get in on that method.
That said, even if you don't get it at first, let it sink in, and don't be so sure that the seemingly high-concept abstraction won't punch you right in the gut. Sure, you have to get used to the stuff, just like you have to get used to anything else...but once you do, your id will have as much stake in the music as your rational faculties do.
Perhaps this can be summed up by another Ornette quote, this one from his liner notes to my favorite of his records, This Is Our Music: "Learned technique is a law method. Natural technique is nature's method. And this is what makes music so beautiful to me: It has both, thank God."
So does music appreciation. Thank God.
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
Nicely done Micheal. You really brought this home by going full circle to make your point. It's a literary device sure, but when it's done well -- as it is here -- it can be a very effective one. Again, well done sir.
-Glen
2 - Pico
I don't think that most people would like whack jazz no matter how many times they listen to it, even as background music. If anything, it might make them hate it even more.
Luckily, I'm not one of those people ;&)
3 - Mark Saleski
very nice.
you know, sometimes i think that people should witness music like this being created live...it's such a different experience than listening to a recording.
the big problem of course is that most ears (Pico's excepted) hear music and try very hard to fit it into the forms they know. so when a set of chord changes and their associated melody lines are not layed out as usual, the dissonance puts them off.
4 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
My only complaint,Mr. West, is that you should've pointed us,the unfamiliar music lover, to some of the works that you like. I personally would like to hear a recent release of this style because I don't like the sounds or perhaps the egineering/recording of those instruments from the 1960s. Just my opinion & usually just about the drums.
Other than that, It was an excellent read...
5 - Michael J. West
Thanks everyone! Mark, Pico, perhaps you guys are right; perhaps I (and Pico) simply have Commie Liberal ears. But I hope not: I hope more people are willing to give it a try, as I genuinely do think that once you acclimate yourself to it, ANYONE can enjoy it. Hell, look at my wife; she hated free jazz when the evening started, and was totally caught up in it by the end.
Guppus, you're right. I should have given more suggestions; I'm wary of naming the disc I was listening to--since I talked so much about it, it would amount to reviewing it here when I'm on assignment to review it elsewhere.
So here's an alternative suggestion. Give the sound samples a try, eh?
6 - Mark Saleski
there's an 18-minute mp3 on the Ganelin Trio main page.
it's not "crazy" free jazz, but it is collective improv.
7 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Imo, I think people should try listening to this in parts. Like you mentioned, play the cd in the background to a chore or routine then actively listen for the melodies(?) that appeal to them. I always find with complex music that the transitions are the hardest to get used to. BUT, this stuff is right up my alley. I guess I'm used to listening to some pretty whacked out but talented sh!te.
Thanks alot for the suggestion... Definitely some cool stuff.
8 - JC Mosquito
I'd say that people shouldn't listen to this kind of music til they're ready for it.
It's funny - I have certain friends that get this, and some that don't. I loaned a later day Coltrane album to a friend, and his wife, a jazz singer, asked why he was listening to a guy practice his scales.
Yeah - Cec Taylor, Ornette, Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, problably never sold as well as Kenny G - and that's something I definitely don't get.