Not intended to sway anyone's point of view; after all, we all like what we like and as O-10 pointed out recently we all grow into genres and appreciation of their uniqueness and different layers.
"Noodling" is defined as "aimless musical improvisation". Now, Michael Brecker's opening to the tune "Sysygy" may sound to some as noodling; but it is anything but. Brecker was the kind improviser that never noodled a single note in his career; he was an extremely purposeful improviser. The extended improvisation in the opening of the tune was a deliberate element of the composition. Some may not like or appreciate this kind of improvisation without the harmonic underpinning (comfort?) of the harmony instruments in the rhythm section, but it is a deliberate element of the composition which creates musical tension followed by the release of the tension when the harmony instruments come in. A conceptual choice....improvisation BEFORE the statement of the melody. Moreover, that improvisation sticks to the harmonic changes of the tune. Hardly an aimless exercise. Again, any one of us may not like it, but I believe there is value in, at least, acknowledging the artist's intent and not being dismissive of the artist's vision.
This may be of interest:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TlEAl3jdn6o
"Noodling" is defined as "aimless musical improvisation". Now, Michael Brecker's opening to the tune "Sysygy" may sound to some as noodling; but it is anything but. Brecker was the kind improviser that never noodled a single note in his career; he was an extremely purposeful improviser. The extended improvisation in the opening of the tune was a deliberate element of the composition. Some may not like or appreciate this kind of improvisation without the harmonic underpinning (comfort?) of the harmony instruments in the rhythm section, but it is a deliberate element of the composition which creates musical tension followed by the release of the tension when the harmony instruments come in. A conceptual choice....improvisation BEFORE the statement of the melody. Moreover, that improvisation sticks to the harmonic changes of the tune. Hardly an aimless exercise. Again, any one of us may not like it, but I believe there is value in, at least, acknowledging the artist's intent and not being dismissive of the artist's vision.
This may be of interest:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TlEAl3jdn6o