July 16th - Jazz Basics Journal

This post belongs in the #jazz collection. You can find all other Jazz Journals under the #jazz hashtag, and documentation of jazz jam sessions here.

"In other words, you must learn to forget the separate acts in order to perform all of them, and indeed any of them, well. But in order to forget them as separate acts, you have to learn them first as separate acts." - How to Read a Book, 84

Jazz is like Skiing.

In order to ski well, you need to focus on a ton of little actions - bending your knees, looking down the hill, keeping your weight forward, keeping your legs in an "A" shape so you can slow down, using your core to stabilize for turns, lean forward but keep your back straight and not arched...All of these little acts have to be mastered in order to be a good skiier. However, when you actually ski down a slope, you focus on the act of skiing itself, the wind blowing past your face and the elation of fluidity as you speed downhill. It's impossible to focus on all the little things and simultaneously ski well at the same time. So in order to ski well, you have to forget those little things and focus on the process itself. But in order to forget those little things, you have to be able to master them first.

In the same vein, Jazz is very much about learning several little acts at a time, before forgetting it all on stage. You have to learn theory, chords and harmony, scales and which ones to use with which chord, rhythm and rhythm changes, syncopation, groove, different styles of music, licks that are good to use, comping and reactive playing....but you can't think about all of these things at once while you're actually jamming. You have to forget all of these things when you play, and focus on the music and focus on collaborating with the other musicians. You have to enjoy it. But you have to master all of those separate elements before you are able to enjoy it, and forget it all.