Comments on: Why Do We Collect?

By: Justin Slater

Justin Slater — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 05:13:18 +0000

I have the personal property of Jimmy Smith that I’m selling. I have a inventory if any one is interested please email me at alleyesonmeshorty@yahoo.com.

By: Neil

Neil — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:49:56 +0000

@ Bill..I would not say that people don’t really know about Nick Payton. Those of us that have been “into it”, have been aware of him since he was a 15 year old kid in Nola trying to sound like Pops. There are many people still digging jazz.

Jazz has never truly been the “popular music”. Even though some argue this point, lets be honest. The minute that Rock and Roll was born, Jazz begin to become a form of music that has lived through it’s institutionalization. Without High Schools, Colleges, Service Bands,the LCJO, road bands, and the hundreds or so musicians performing keeping it alive, I believe that it would be deceased.

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:15:15 +0000

I saw Nicholas Payton when he was at Birdland a few months ago. He is really, really good. No one really knows about him, though. Such a shame.

By: Mattyman

Mattyman — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:14:00 +0000

Dottore, the Italian Schema label has a lot of great artists on their roster and releases great material. A few recommendations: Nicola Conte (don't forget to listen to the previews to the right of each title), Mario Biondi, Rosalia de Souza or another act on another label: Cesar's Salad. There's so many and sometimes it requires some serious time to let the moderner jazz 'grow on you', but maybe you should begin with the above mentioned Nicola Conte album. You'll love it ;-)

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:09:33 +0000

dottor,
I’ve stated my opinion before and don’t want to beat a dead horse but there is a lot going on in the “Jazz” world today. The problem for most people is that there is too much influence of music outside of jazz onto current jazz. Just keeping with the names don-lucky mentioned(I could name others but his names are very good examples)there are some excellent players. But all of the players grew up with music beyond jazz and incorporate those elements from R&B, pop, electronic, etc. I’ve had the benefit of seeing Nicholas Payton live many many times in a variety of settings, as an example(we live relatively close). I can say he is the most technically talented trumpet player I’ve seen. Whether he is using music in a unique and new way, or is he doing something fresh could be debated. I definitely think so, he’s not regurgitating stale post bop, he’s taking off where that left off while acknowledging his historic influences(which are not all jazz artists). He’s just one example from Don-Lucky’s list, I do dig the others. I listened to a CD last night by Erik Friedlander called “Bonebridge”. I find that this band has a unique and interesting voice. There is a lot of very old folk feel to it, while it seems very modern at the same time. It’s not the greatest thing I’ve ever put on but it is unique, interesting, and fun to listen to. Now I could hear someone say that it isn’t “pure jazz”. I don’t really like those debates. I’m not certain what that means anymore. As an example, if a New Orleans jazz musician plays a show and does not acknowledge a mild R&B influence he/she is being dishonest. If you grew up there, it’s very difficult for the native music not to permeate your playing. So are they no longer playing jazz due to the R&B influence? These are questions I can’t answer.
I really enjoy the current jazz scene. I think it lacks the numbers and the talent of jazz of the 40s-60s but there is still enough there to keep me interested.

By: don-lucky

don-lucky — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:10:10 +0000

Past, present and future…No matter how long we have been collecting, it isn’t hard to find something new to keep our interest. I am still watching, listening and learning as much as possible about this great art form, and that is why we never tire of collecting. There is always something new to learn, to buy and to listen to.

Dottorjazz: Depending on your taste, there are some great “young lions” out there these days that still have something new to say even if they are giving a nod to their past predeccessors. The last few years have seen the likes of Robert Glasper, Baptiste Trotignon and Avishai Cohen (etc.) really come into their own. Where as Nicholas Payton, Roy Hargrove, Joshua Redman, Ravi Coltrane and Terence Blanchard are out there keeping time and the art form alive. Not to mention all the living legends still with us and still touring like Sonny Rollins, Lou Donaldson, McCoy Tyner, Benny Golson, Ornette Colman, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Roy Haynes,Houston Person, Kenny Burrell etc. (Dave Brubeck is a given, but he recently stopped touring for the moment)

Jazz in my mind is all about the live experience, and each artist’s interpretations and improvisation upon the old standard time signatures. To be truly appreciated, it must be experienced at the moment of inception. Despite our best efforts to capture it, recordings have not yet been able to fully transcribe all the energy of a given session, or all the other intangibles of that moment in time that add to a truly inspired performance. Leaving us with all those gaps in time, and our collections. I “recollect” between sets by collecting our beloved LP’s…

By: dottorjazz

dottorjazz — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:24:02 +0000

maybe I’m wrong, but: how many collectors here do follow present?
I don’t: non more time to go to concerts, to listen to radio programs, I don’t watch TV. Read and listen a lot instead.
I’m pretty sure I can still find something interesting and new for me in the past.
I’t’s true that some 25 years ago I had to interest myself into something’ different than jazz (classical), but I never stopped lovin’ jazz.
now I’m skipping classical for a full time jazz listening. I consider jazz, as an original art form, embalmed since early 70’s. no real new direction after Free. what I’d really like is to discover somethin’ different, I’m not satisfied with what I already know, even well played today but yesterday’s music.
I would like to be knocked by an unknown cat saying something I’ve never heard.
I don’t need a new Bird or a new Trane, I’ve got ’em.
please help me to know a different one.
in the mean time I’ll lay back to my beloved 50’s and 60’s.
first pressing….

By: Mattyman

Mattyman — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:05:59 +0000

Exactly my point, Maarten and of course looking back in awe without forgetting the present! 😉

By: Rudolf

Rudolf — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:08:54 +0000

so, the next time it will be on the screens here, I will see “Midnight in Paris”. Btw, I think Maarten perfectly recaps my situation.

By: m.kools

m.kools — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:21:24 +0000

yes, the woody allen movie says it all, about what people consider “a golden age”.
There is a difference between the ‘older’ people who saw the jazz live in the fiftie and sixties, and younger peple like Matty and me. Matty and I like something that is old-fashioned, something that has passed, but people like rudolf liked this music when it was new and modern/controversial. Where matty and me are looking back, the likes of rudolf where embracing the modern…