Jazz is...
If we are going to talk jazz theology then we must first ask, "What is jazz?"
Complete the sentence, "Jazz is..."
posted by jazztheo at 11/25/2005 11:33:00 AM
Friday, November 25, 2005
If we are going to talk jazz theology then we must first ask, "What is jazz?"
Complete the sentence, "Jazz is..."
About Me
- Name: jazztheo
- Location: married to my heart & soul, United States
On the hyphen between African and American. In search of a Convergent Theology, an African-American contribution to Christianity in the 21st Century.
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5 Comments:
Let me think about your question for a while and then I'll be back with an answer.
Maybe that's my problem, huh. "Thinking" is more classical in nature where as jazz is more about the moment at hand and being lead by intuition (spirit, gut, etc.) making improvisation the operative means of creating an altogether new form of music that's highly subjective and open to a wide variance of interpretation. This broader and more creative style allows for breathing room and as such becomes more attractive to a larger audience. It fits the need of many given that it can "speak" to each person in a new or different way. It's not bound by a constant measure of time and often trails off into a seemingly wandering and meandering dance of notes. Even a song initially taken up as a “remake” only provides in the minds of some jazz artists a bare structure on which to build until the boundaries of said song are no longer needed. At some point the remake becomes unrecognizable to the ears of listeners. It’s akin to abstract or impressionistic art.
Well, I suppose I don't need to go away for a while and think about it. Grin.
syncopation and improvisation...
rhythm and feeling...
ability to adapt and change...
"Jazz is..."
mystical.
Momentary, contextual, and "located," while timeless, transcendent, and fluid.
Freedom...Within limits...that are changing.
shermancox.com
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