I think it’s my fault.
I’m not kidding. People think it’s relaxing, but it totally stresses me out. Pantera doesn’t even stress me out, but jazz does …
I can only think of one reason for this: my brain knows something complex and symmetrical is happening, it’s trying to figure it out, and it can’t quite get there.
It reminds me of this horrible experience I had in law school …
Law professors publish very sophisticated law review articles, especially when the topics of law and economics collide. Sometimes they involve historical summaries, statistics, multiple regression analysis, high brow economic concepts, and policy, all on a backdrop of American case law and statutes.
The top law schools offer opportunities to professors (from those schools) to visit and have their final draft of a proposed article questioned and critiqued by a panel of their associates – other law professors. It’s a sort of collegial peer review.
We did that at my school. Professors came to visit from Yale, Stanford, etc, and our professors would poke holes in the paper prior to publication. It happened weekly in the fall. The sessions weren’t open to the public, but ten students were invited to attend and participate in all of them each fall, for a grade. I was one of them.
I felt very small and slow … like a snail in a herd of horses.
That’s how jazz makes me feel. I know something very cool is happening, but I’m always a minute behind everybody else to figure out what.
Below is the best experience I’ve had with jazz so far. If you know a little about music, you know there’s a lot going on … this guy’s comment sums it up well for me.
Enjoy …
Septima Buccina 
I understand your story. I believe it’s your nature to find and figure out complexity of most things and of course, you’re a musician so that is a natural inclination. I’ve admired that. I, on the other hand, (sadly). don’t have that gift, but because of this I just listen and enjoy the music. I like jazz, but only the old jazz of artists such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evens and the like. Problem is that every single one of them had horrible lifestyles and I’ve pretty much convinced myself to limit the listening of them. Anyway, there’s my take. Miss you:)
LikeLiked by 2 people
😂🤣 I keep doing that Meant to “like” Erin’s “it’s a mood”. That’s a good word for jazz.
LikeLike
*of
LikeLike
I appreciate the complexity.
But
Just too much dissonance.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s definitely a mood.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reminds me if this: https://youtu.be/Tfx9B7hGk5o
LikeLike
Jazz is just noise. Your mind is fighting it because it is junk, just like most of the mid century “modern music”.
I went to a symphony a few yrs ago. The main piece was Brunker’s 7th; however, they played a “piece” from a local female up and coming composser… it was noise, waste water, yet everyone (but me and my wife) stood and clapped.
LikeLike
Sounds like chaos, with a smug air of self righteousness, jazz is the work of the usual suspects, I’ve always hated it intuitively.
Beethoven and similar classical music makes me feel “small” the way you described. Getting off of rock music was one the most difficult vices to overcome, mainly because there is a sparse selection of decent music(epic soundtracks,Marcel Perez chants, some folk). You’re take on most topics is 99.9% spot on, especially the Vendee Radio series.
LikeLike