Philojazzophy…
I can’t help it, I’m addicted. There is something about immersing myself in jazz music and where it grew and what it means that makes my mind race. As I’ve been watching I’ve been trying to figure out if there is a particular period or sound in jazz that really connects with me more than others. I honestly can’t find one. Depending on the day of the week, time, weather, what I had for dinner I can listen to be-bop, swing, dixieland, new orleans, cool, chicago, west coast…you get the point. I get what they’re all saying and I dig it, man I dig it (I couldn’t resist).
I have often felt that I was born several decades too late. Although the argument could be made that had I lived at the time of so many of the things that I groove on, I would have lacked the perspective to appreciate them. Interesting mental exercise. Pick a decade, cultural movement, or period in history that speaks to you on a deep and visceral level. What about that time, place, or intellectual intersection stirs you pricks the longing to do a little space/time bending? Did you hear that call the first time that you encountered the given moment? Did it take a litte time to blossom, incubate, stew? Is there an inherent difference in the call you hear and the sound of your everyday life? What about taking the things that cause you to gaze fondly backward and bringing them forward? An amalgamation of past and present that makes a new future.
There are several of these moments and intersections that come to my mind as I try to answer these questions for myself. Maybe I’ll try to visit some of them over the next few weeks and create a little bit of a philosophical time machine. I have to say that I’ve been feeling rather Socratic recently. I keep finding myself pausing, taking stock, checking my direction. I can’t help but try to reach out in response to the tug of beauty and art. As I do, I keep examining my thoughts and perception. Trying to ride the wave of awareness and perhaps deepen the currents of thought that would love to stay broad and smooth flowing. It’s really exciting to truly get inside your mind. Unfortunately, my ability to cohesively express the currents is lacking. Perhaps that’s why I’m writinig more often. I’m trying to hone the edge of communication so that I can place a little order on an action that thrives on its rambling nature.
If you’ve made it this far, well done. I don’t expect you to understand this post. There’s a lot more about it unsaid than said. It’s rather Monklike (Thelonius not monestary). Stick around and tune in, we’ll find the beat.
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