Level 42 Digest for Monday, July 21, 2003

Jazz has and always will be an alternate or even underground genre. The masses are no more musically illiterate today than they have ever been. Isn't that like believing all people are generally stupid? There are many extremely talented jazz artists today. It's just really difficult to find out about them.

As I'm sure Alex will attest, the jazz scene here in Toronto is pretty good. Montreal is far better. We have CJRT public jazz radio 91.1. CBC 94.1 federal funded radio with all sorts of interesting shows, including jazz. TVO, (Canada's PBS) often features North American jazz artists, which continually astound me. This is where I heard Loston Harris, among others.

Aren't the most popular jazz albums Take Five and Breezin'? What's that saying for Jazz? No one mentioned the Marsaillis bros., Jacco, or Stanley Clarke as more current day masters. I love jazz and have talked to other jazz lovers who believe if it ain't Parker, Coltrane or Davis, it just isn't worthy; Chet Baker for example was considered by one as a "footnote to jazz". Please.

Santana is no jazz artist, or master, but Oyo Como Va is one of the ten coolest songs of all time. It's the taste thing again.

I don't know how one can deduce or induce that from an artist's oeuvre (I fell I must make an A.G. reference here, as this is certainly not my idea) they have no more musical ability than what is perceived to be the best they have recorded. In other words, when you listen to Time Exposure by Stanley Clark, which is basically a pop album, having heard only that album, how could one say "what a great player, but he's no jazz player"? The point being, in regard to level 42 as jazz capable, the level of talent required to play jazz is varied. I believe all four original players could competently play jazz and that one should not form an opinion of capability based on released material. Turn It On, for example, was not written to push the musical envelope and sprung from those jazz/funk days. Frankly, the musicianship is why we all like Level 42. I think you're cutting them short.

And by the way, after hours upon hours of listening to EMG, I must say, hats off to Andrew. It has really grown on me and I can't wait to see the show. I can't say yet it is better then 2AN, but I do like it as much.

Colin

1. Jazz
From:	Colin Gupta <thegoop @ sympatico.ca>
Date:	Sun, 20 Jul 2003 10:16:27 -0500	[top]
Jazz has and always will be an alternate or even underground genre. The masses are no more musically illiterate today than they have ever been. Isn't that like believing all people are generally stupid? There are many extremely talented jazz artists today. It's just really difficult to find out about them. As I'm sure Alex will attest, the jazz scene here in Toronto is pretty good. Montreal is far better. We have CJRT public jazz radio 91.1. CBC 94.1 federal funded radio with all sorts of interesting shows, including jazz. TVO, (Canada's PBS) often features North American jazz artists, which continually astound me. This is where I heard Loston Harris, among others. Aren't the most popular jazz albums Take Five and Breezin'? What's that saying for Jazz? No one mentioned the Marsaillis bros., Jacco, or Stanley Clarke as more current day masters. I love jazz and have talked to other jazz lovers who believe if it ain't Parker, Coltrane or Davis, it just isn't worthy; Chet Baker for example was considered by one as a "footnote to jazz". Please. Santana is no jazz artist, or master, but Oyo Como Va is one of the ten coolest songs of all time. It's the taste thing again. I don't know how one can deduce or induce that from an artist's oeuvre (I fell I must make an A.G. reference here, as this is certainly not my idea) they have no more musical ability than what is perceived to be the best they have recorded. In other words, when you listen to Time Exposure by Stanley Clark, which is basically a pop album, having heard only that album, how could one say "what a great player, but he's no jazz player"? The point being, in regard to level 42 as jazz capable, the level of talent required to play jazz is varied. I believe all four original players could competently play jazz and that one should not form an opinion of capability based on released material. Turn It On, for example, was not written to push the musical envelope and sprung from those jazz/funk days. Frankly, the musicianship is why we all like Level 42. I think you're cutting them short. And by the way, after hours upon hours of listening to EMG, I must say, hats off to Andrew. It has really grown on me and I can't wait to see the show. I can't say yet it is better then 2AN, but I do like it as much. Colin

2. Roots of L42
From:	Dave Mock <dfmock @ rocketmail.com>
Date:	Sun, 20 Jul 2003 13:55:42 -0700 (PDT)	[top]
Hey, Micro-Kids: Nice post, Aric, regarding early Level 42. I grew up in the 70s and 80s and have a lot of passion for jazz/funk (thanks mom!) When I look back at the L42 catalogue I think of how unusual "Standing In the Light" is, compared to the earlier and later output...like a jazz/funk concept album. And those individualistic bass lines! Even "Out of Sight, Out of Mind," the one "pop-ish" ballad in the set, has such killer chord changes. TCOY, The Duke ===== "...brotherhood is not so wild a dream as those who profit by postponing it pretend." (Norman Corwin) __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com

End of Level 42 Digest for Sunday, May 25, 2003	Help support the Level 42 Digest:
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