Jazz for aficionados

Now is the time for the Frogman to shine, he never met a "Bruhah" that he didn't instantly fall in love with. Unfortunately he has a legitimate reason for not responding to my post on soul; but he picks and chooses to respond to posts like a politician; it depends on who he is in favor of on any given day.

The reason he likes a "Bruhah" is because he can write one of his two page diatribes, that if I'm included, I wont know what I said or didn't say; I wont even recognize myself. It's like seeing myself in one of those fun house mirrors; I look short and squat in one, and like a tall skinny bean pole in the next one.

Now that this has begun, there is no telling when we'll get back to music, so I might as well include a story that I've told a dozen times; it's about a guy who got a degree, or maybe degrees from Juilliard. He was my best friends brother, who lived in New York until he retired and moved to Florida.

Recently, my friend got sick (very ill) and we were trying to contact his brother in Spain, but the hotel said he left there for another hotel; anyway, I never heard him play one note of jazz, but he made a very good living teaching music.

I had two other friends who could really pack the house; they could jam like you would not believe, and neither one of them went to anybody's school. My point is quite simple, when it comes to "hard bop" jazz, either you got it, or you no got it; if they didn't care about school, why should I? Although I must concede that a degree from da big "J" will most certainly command a fat paycheck.


Enjoy the music.

There’s really not much that can be added that isn’t obvious to anyone with a reasonable level of intellect; and therein lies the fundamental problem here. This would normally (and ideally) not be an issue at all if it weren’t accompanied by an equally low level of basic decorum and civility in the way that the interaction takes place. I do find fascinating and highly appropriate the "looking in the mirror" analogy; remarkable how we can fool ourselves into seeing what we want to see (instead of the truth) in order to build ourselves up.

Early on in the history of this thread I made the comment that I felt that one of the most important aspects of being a good music listener is to never lose one’s sense of humility. Iow, the music is always greater than personal ego and there is danger in identifying with it in a way that is overly self-serving and doesn’t honor the grandeur of the music. No matter one’s level or type of experience in or with the music there is always much more to learn. The danger in not respecting this reality is the stunning level of irrationality and hypocracy demonstrated here by those who cannot bear to consider the possibility that someone else may have a different way of approaching the listening experience; or, God forbid!, some level of insight that eludes them.

Alex (and others), here's a rarity, Art Pepper on clarinet.  Not exactly the most accomplished clarinetist, but always with that fantastic sense of swing that he had in spades which, for a nice relaxed tune like this,  renders moot any limitations on the instrument.  Two different takes of the same tune from one of my favorite records:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PLc1mfuf6zTgipDQ_MPPkbVgugTVUH2w8i&v=FpDcFkdATbI

https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PLc1mfuf6zTgipDQ_MPPkbVgugTVUH2w8i&v=cZSKf8s8NfY

The current reigning king of the clarinet.  Eddie Daniels is an amazing virtuoso on multiple woodwinds who has focused on the clarinet in recent years and can play in any genre from Classical to  Jazz to fusion.  Beautiful player and, like Michael Brecker on the tenor, and putting stylistic preferences aside,  possibly the greatest virtuoso to ever play jazz clarinet.  I admit that I don't always like his very "noty" style, but I post it to show what is possible on the instrument:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sfeoqVulAXg

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7SdCFoReTSY

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj3wSASuSp0

Frogman, I find it very interesting how music affect us all differently and how origins of 'taste' could be very elusive.
For reasons that I still try to understand,the sound of clarinet and accordion (even more) are the ones that associate me with almost instant and complete sadness, no matter what music is played. (slight exception is jazz on clarinet)
Here are couple of links of music played on clarinet and accordion that are not jazz, but you may find them interesting, if nothing, than out of pure cuorisity.
The music itself is from Balkans region, that was ruled by Otoman empire (as well as other powers) for couple of centuries and  those influnces can be heard.
I'll be interested to hear your comment, as well from others, if you find it interesting

https://youtu.be/0cvKvd6HynA

same guy, playing composition of A.Shaw, some 30 years before(would not guess it, by looking at cover,ha,ha)
https://youtu.be/OzD2Y9rI50I
 

https://youtu.be/nhiZ8lDhSJM
 

Very interesting comments, Alex, and I agree completely; the origins of "taste" can indeed be very elusive.  I love ethnic music from that part of the world as well as most ethnic musics.  The subject of "soul" comes up frequently here and I think it's important to appreciate that "soul" is not unique to music with roots in the Afro-American experience.  I first fully understood this the first time that I travelled to Japan.  After years of finding Japanese ethnic music unlistenable, being extremely grating and abrasive to everything that was part of my musical frame of reference, learning a bit about Japanese culture showed me just how soulful that ethnic music is.  I feel the same way about music from the Balkans and find much of it very soulful.  As far as the feeling of sadness that the clarinet/accordion invokes in you, a couple of thoughts; but, first, I would like to give anyone who will be offended by a bit of "analysis" time to leave the room😔................
..........................................................................................................
........... is the coast clear? ............................................................OK:

On the assumption that you have heard a fair amount of ethnic music from the Balkans (hence your familiarity with Milosevic) it should be pointed out that much of it features the clarinet, so I am sure that you are considering the very natural feeling of nostalgia that it may invoke in you, just as Cuban folk music does for me.  Beyond that, and this is key (pun intended).............. last chance .........................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................OK,
most ethnic music from the Balkans is in a minor key; the "sadness" key, as opposed to a major key, the "happy" key.  Music in a minor key is recognized as invoking a feeling of sadness.  Almost all blues is in a minor key.  Perhaps this contributes to your feeling.

Very good clarinetist Milosevik.  I am well aware of his son Milan Milosevik, also a very accomplished and highly respected clarinetist who works in North America (mainly Canada).  I knew his father was also a musician, but knew nothing more.  Thank you for those clips.  He's a fine clarinetist; very expressive.  It is interesting to compare his playing  to his son's who is more a product of the "internationalization" of the different styles of clarinet playing; a twentieth century phenomenon.  Less overtly "ethnic" and individualistic, but more refined and, arguably, even more soulful:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HcFTnxRMbHw

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bjv2nAhIbiQ (he plays Tarogato at the end of this)