How to understand jazz

Deathmetalconga

Platinum Member
Interviewer: Can you explain jazz?

Yogi: I can't, but I will. Ninety per cent of all jazz is half
improvisation. The other half is the part people play while others are
playing something they never played with anyone who played that part.
So if you play the wrong part, its right. If you play the right part, it
might be right if you play it wrong enough. But if you play it too right, it's
wrong.

Interviewer: I don't understand.

Yogi: Anyone who understands jazz knows that you can't understand it.
It's too complicated. That's what's so simple about it.

Interviewer: Do you understand it?

Yogi: No. That's why I can explain it. If I understood it, I wouldn't
know anything about it.

Interviewer: Are there any great jazz players alive today?

Yogi: No. All the great jazz players alive today are dead. Except for the
ones that are still alive. But so many of them are dead, that the ones
that are still alive are dying to be like the ones that are dead.

Interviewer: What is syncopation?

Yogi: That's when the note that you should hear now happens either
before or after you hear it. In jazz, you don't hear notes when they happen
because that would be some other type of music. Other types of music can be jazz, but only if they're the same as something different from those other
kinds.

Interviewer: Now I really don't understand.

Yogi: I haven't taught you enough for you to not understand jazz that well.
 
ROTFL.....

I especially like the line "that the ones
that are still alive are dying to be like the ones that are dead." which could actually apply to a wide variety of musical styles.
 
Wow! I really understand what you are saying about jazz..! I must, because I didn't understand a thing you said. However, I did understand what you mean, so... I must not really understand jazz..??!!

Anyways, (not) well put DMC.

Could you teach us about death metal now!!??? @:)
 
good one. I think this will actually help me and my band mates to better understand the things we only thought we understood wrongly - but now we'll finally get it right...
 
Wow! I really understand what you are saying about jazz..! I must, because I didn't understand a thing you said. However, I did understand what you mean, so... I must not really understand jazz..??!!

Anyways, (not) well put DMC.

Could you teach us about death metal now!!??? @:)

lol

I understood it perfectly which would explain why I don't understand jazz. When I play things right it's the wrong kind of right for jazz and when I play things wrong it's the wrong kind of wrong.

I think an analysis of death metal might go like this:

Is it hard, fast and vicious enough?

No. Try harder.

How about now?

Nup.

Ok, I'm getting really mean now.

Pussy!

Right!! This is full throttle!

*yawn" wake me when you're done, will you? ...
 
How about an analogy of rock?

Q: Can you explain rock:

A: Well it's pretty simple, just give me three chords and...(okay I decided to cut this bit out so someone doesn't start a war or something)
 
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That goes along with my quote. "The first thing that I learned about jazz is this. No matter what you play, You are playing it wrong, and someone can't wait to tell you that you are playing it wrong!" BDD
 
That's too funny! I hadn't seen that before! Thanks for posting that, and yes, I agree it should be a poster! I'd buy and keep it on my studio wall!
 
since i'm just starting to delve into jazz drumming I dont understand a damn thing about that interview and it totally makes sense....like this quote (if you're a dork like me you know where it's from)

"you're looking at now, sir. Everything that happens now, is happening now. "
"What happened to then? "
"We passed then"
"when?"
"just now, we're at now now"
"when will then be now?"
"soon"
 
Spaceballs!! As a matter of fact the DVD is sitting on my desk at this moment. "Virgin alert!" Love the movie and Mel Brooks. May the schwartz be with you.
 
Interviewer: Can you explain jazz?

Yogi: I can't, but I will. Ninety per cent of all jazz is half
improvisation. The other half is the part people play while others are
playing something they never played with anyone who played that part.
So if you play the wrong part, its right. If you play the right part, it
might be right if you play it wrong enough. But if you play it too right, it's
wrong.

Interviewer: I don't understand.

Yogi: Anyone who understands jazz knows that you can't understand it.
It's too complicated. That's what's so simple about it.

Interviewer: Do you understand it?

Yogi: No. That's why I can explain it. If I understood it, I wouldn't
know anything about it.

Interviewer: Are there any great jazz players alive today?

Yogi: No. All the great jazz players alive today are dead. Except for the
ones that are still alive. But so many of them are dead, that the ones
that are still alive are dying to be like the ones that are dead.

Interviewer: What is syncopation?

Yogi: That's when the note that you should hear now happens either
before or after you hear it. In jazz, you don't hear notes when they happen
because that would be some other type of music. Other types of music can be jazz, but only if they're the same as something different from those other
kinds.

Interviewer: Now I really don't understand.

Yogi: I haven't taught you enough for you to not understand jazz that well.

Was that Yogi Horton?
 
I used to have a book of Yogi's malapropisms. It was awesome.

"[restaurant name]? Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded."

EDIT: the title was, IIRC "A Lot of Things I Said, I Didn't Really Say."
 
Very funny.

I've only ever had two forum bust-ups and they have both been about jazz.

Davo

Jazz and the role of technique in music. I dare not say that I enjoy non-technical drumming and music more than the technical type or I'm accused of sour grapes because I can't play it ... OOPS! And I definitely dare not offer deeper thoughts based on my 30+ years of passion for music because I never achieved great heights so that's moving beyond my station and giving bad information.

No no, I didn't say any of it! Quick, let's talk about cymbals!

Actually, I was thinking more Maharishi Mahesh Yogi than Yogi Berra. DMC's OP still worked for me, but now it makes even more sense lol
 
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