|
roachboy and aberkok have said most of what I wanted to say. Just two things.
First of all, jazz is exactly as accessible as you make it. A lot of folks seem to think they need to take classes in music appreciation or something in order to be able to listen to jazz, but so long as you can listen and enjoy it there's nothing to stop you. I won't deny that a solid grounding in theory will alter the way you listen to the music, but it isn't necessary by any means, and it'd be sort of odd to learn it all just to be able to apply it to listening. If you pick some stuff up while listening to various compositions, so be it. But really, all you need to appreciate jazz is a set of ears and a brain. As long as you've got that you're set.
Also, I'm sort of questioning your motives. It seems like you don't really want to appreciate jazz for the music so much as because you think it's the done thing. This is the wrong reason to get into any kind of music. Don't get me wrong, if you like the format I say more power to you; however, I don't advocate listening to jazz because you want to appear smarter or out of some misguided sense of obligation. Do it because you want to, not because you think you should.
And yeah. Other than that, do what roachboy and aberkok say. They know what they're talking about.
__________________
I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said
- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame
|