In the early days of jazz, it was ensemble music: everybody playing all together. Nobody really stood out.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
I cut myself off from the mainstream of jazz. It stood me in good stead later on, as a musician.
I know of musicians who have played together for decades who hate each other. The Modern Jazz Quartet for one.
The history of all big jazz bands shows was, first they played for dancing, and then they played for singing.
Jazz was the pop music of its day, and all American popular music has stemmed from it one way or another.
Jazz really does try to include everything. It's always been popular music. But the wonderful thing about jazz is its willingness to take chances.
I was totally into jazz in my teens.
I read every book there was on jazz, about the original players - King Oliver, Buddy Bolden and all those groups. At one time I was fairly well schooled in that... I could tell you who played where and when, historically, way before my time.
I like jazz, but I could never play it. You just sit there with a guitar the size of a Chevy on your chest, wearing a stupid hat, playing the same solo for an hour.
Jazz is letting everybody do his or her thing with the music.
It's pretty rare in jazz to have a full-on steady band.