What's the right way to listen to a jazz record? Are you supposed to put all your focus on the music, like some sort of medition? Do you need to get into classical before jazz?
I try to appreciate and understand jazz but I lose my attention during the half of most pieces. So far I only "get" Kind of Blue, Giant Steps, and Idle Moments. I think I may be too dumb for jazz.
What do, lads?
It's the notes that they're *not* playing.
No classical
No meditating
You just put it on like any other music and groove
I got into it thanks to the world-tinged chaos of Pharoah Sanders - Villiage of the Pharoahs
Now i just think everything from Lester Young to modern avant noise jazz is neat.
You just listen to different shit and if it grabs your ear, run with it, if not, don't
Stop fetishizing a fucking genre
I love jazz but what does this even mean?
Google "phrasing"
>Are you supposed to put all your focus on the music, like some sort of medition?
I'm pretty sure you're supposed to do that for all music.
When I listen to anything new I'll just stare at the MusicBee theatre mode.
If you lose focus, that's either the music's fault for being boring, or it's good ambient.
Google "Schrödinger's cat"
When I first got into jazz I was given some pointers to contextualize it. Generally you ought to focus on the soloist and what they're communicating. The rhythm section can be attention grabbing but the soloist is usually the main focus. Also some knowledge of theory helps but isn't necessary. It may also be helpful to read up on the culture and history of jazz. Not necessarily a book, skimming Wikipedia for albums can help a beginner. The lineups of different albums speaks a lot about who the bandleader chose, why they chose them, and ultimately it comes down to what each player has to offer and their chemistry between each other. Jazz is often very social music. Above all just enjoy it!
do research on any facet of the music you're drawn to. There's plenty of hybrids and styles of jazz. Use Wikipedia and google. If you don't like something, even if it's considered a masterpiece, just listen to it as much as you want and then move on. Try again in a few years, your ear may have changed.
Try to come to the music on its own terms, even if it means understanding some of the history and surrounding culture.