But, also because it just made me realize that I lack the musical fluency to be able to adequately describe the things I like about it, and that's part of the trouble I have with jazz in general.

Here, I know that the thing that makes me down with this is how in the pocket everyone is playing. As in, there's a groove underlying the entire performance, and everyone, even when they get noodly and do that jazz thing where it seems like the person playing in "front" isn't playing the same thing, they're still in that groove.

But it shouldn't take an entire paragraph to express that idea. I have the same trouble with prog rock and prog metal. They do stuff that's musically at the edges, and I just don't have the background knowledge to do more than just vibe with it, and it really feels like I would appreciate it all more if I had a musical bone in my body and could follow what they're doing on that level.

Anyway, I hope someone else enjoys this performance too :)

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[–] tomkatt@lemmy.world 8 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Never saw this performance but I’ll always upvote for Brubeck. Take Five is one of my favorite songs.

With regards to the “noodly jazz thing” when a song is played, often artists will solo in the middle. This is commonly improv’d and done in the key of the song while the other musicians maintain the rhythm. Once the solos conclude the group will return to the main melody.

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 2 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Take five is, in my newcomer mind, the default jazz experience. It really captures the concept in a way that nothing else I can think of does, and keeps it both accessible to new ears and with depth that rises up as you explore jazz and pick things up. I keep coming back to it every month or two and find new bits in the various performances that I never previously noted.

Jazz solos confused the hell out of me before I "clicked" finally while listening to Abraham Iboriel. Something about his style made my brain finally get jazz about two years ago, when I was fifty. I still don't always feel a given solo, they don't always mesh in my brain with the rest of the song, but I'm finally reaching a point where I look forward to unexpected improv like that. It's one of the things that made this performance stand out. Both the piano and sax solos snapped me out of the groove, but also made me notice the groove more, they made it all feel fresh again.

If I'm being honest though, some solos still confuse me lol

[–] tomkatt@lemmy.world 2 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago) (1 children)

If you want something really wild where it’s like the band is all doing their own thing and somehow it still works incredibly, check out “Moanin’” by Charles Mingus.

Also, not related, but Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers also have a great tune also called Moanin’.

If you want some more modern jazz, I’d recommend Ibrahim Maalouf and Takuya Kuroda (both are Jazz trumpeters), and Hiromi Uehara (Piano), especially her Trio Project (Alive is one of the most outstanding albums I’ve ever listened to, and Spark is also excellent).

Ezra Collective out of the UK also has some really good stuff.

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 2 points 16 hours ago

I appreciate the recs :)

[–] elevenbones@sh.itjust.works 3 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago)

Theres plenty of free resources online to learn more about mysic theory! Even if you dont play an instrument it'll help you understand more music, and help you train your ear.