One Friday I found myself sitting on Albert Square, Manchester. There was a giant pyramid tent there. I was there inside the tent for about 3 hours, determined not to leave despite the ever increasing headache. Surrounded by lots of smiling people, young guys with pony tails, older fellows with beards, and lots of suede, corduroy and denim (and that’s just the women) I was watching a jazz quintet doing a lot of modern jazz. It was part of the Manchester Jazz Festival.
Now, generally I understand all forms of music despite not personally liking some of them, such as country (two or more songs of which instantly make me suicidal), or even some of the more disjointed rap and MCing (two or more songs of which make me feel violent). In all cases I do understand how they are music. I can hear the musical form, the hooks, the whole point. Even if it’s not for me, I get it and accept and see the appeal.
And then there’s modern jazz.
Now, I used to believe that modern jazz was either the preserve of people so stoned that they were in a place where music had no form, or it was some kind of Emperor’s new clothes type joke. However, I do accept that it is a music form that has a following and the support of good and fine people.
But, I just don’t get it. Not even slightly.
I sat there as this team of musicians used their instruments to make weird random disjointed noises with no rhythm, no melody, no hook, nothing I could pick up on and try to appreciate. They sounded like an orchestra tuning up ahead of playing some brilliant piece of work. For 3 whole hours they sounded like this. I assume they were playing together, and they were playing well as the audience clapped long and loud with appreciation whenever they stopped (and I’m assuming not because they’d stopped). However, at no point could I ‘get it’. Trying to ‘get it’ made my head seriously ache. I tried relaxing into it. I tried watching how others were appreciating it and copying them. I tried to drift away. Nope. Nothing worked. At absolutely no point did I ‘get it’ or enjoy it.
Why don’t I get it?
What is the appeal of this form of jazz?
England's England 