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So really, why jazz, anyway?

The appeal is decidedly selective - jazz will never have the broad based following of popular genres. In this regard, fun is poked at it. "Jazz - 139 Americans can't be wrong!" To me, the lack of mass appeal is a part of the music's charm. There is an investment of understanding and openness that the majority are not willing to give. After all, these are the 2000's - there are a bazillion TV channels, and NASCAR, cage fighting, and American Karaoke (Idol) are huge. 'The Arts' seems to be a small and shrinking niche. An obscure archipelago.

And the epitome of this artistic niche is jazz. The music's essential element is improvisation - it is created in performance. It is not the recreation of a past achievement or the preservation of a cherished relic. Though it has tradition and accepted practices, jazz in it's truest sense is created in the moment. It is alive and vital NOW and therefore no two performances of a piece are the same. This unpredictable aspect of performance is the life blood of jazz - it's essence - and coupled with the skill necessary to bring it about, is the reason for it's lofty position among the arts.

Aside from it's influence on culture and other art forms, jazz continually has a profound affect on performers and listeners alike:

Performing - every tune you play is a canvas you are invited to create upon, limited only by your own creativity, knowledge, experience, mood, and willingness to experiment and to take risks. This is both a daunting and fascinating challenge; one that, if truly accepted, does not grow old.

Listening - Let's just say it: jazz audiences are on a higher plane. It's not about needing to hear the comfortable, the familiar, what's been on the radio a lot. It's about hearing what the musicians have to SAY. The ideas, the interaction, the chemistry. When a group is playing together well, it swings no matter what the style, and a mature, hip audience is a vital ingredient in the mix. So when the audience and musicians meet in the middle, emotions are stirred and souls are touched on both parts.

It is a combination, then, of the process and end result that makes up the 'why'. It is the willingness of the artist to put himself in the position of having to create on the spot, and the openness of the listener to perceive what is offered that combine to create a truly satisfying experience - or a great evening out. Or both!

- S. Hennig 7/15/07