Turquoise Café-Bar Europa in Pacific Beach - Experience Essay

...

I wasn’t familiar with either but it also held a fast tempo like Windows, and gave me a very jazz fusion/funk feeling. The song displayed characteristics like that of a plunger when the pianist changed his settings to have a different sound effect that was very “wah-wah” sounding. The electric bass and guitarists were the main components in holding the melody and switching off solos. The guest drummer, once again displayed complete composure and held a very steady, fast tempo while the string instruments improvised. Unfortunately the band’s set was over in the next 15 minutes so once the song ended, the guest drummer got up and thanked them for that fun jam session and then they carried on the rest of their set with one song that was more mellow and another that was a perfect fusion of the two.

While reading the article of Herbie Hancock and Wynton Marsalis discussing jazz, craft, soul, and culture I always find it interesting when artists, black artists per se bring up the history of jazz and where we lie with jazz today. Marsalis answers questions of the breaking down of black music and concludes that it’s “…an imitation of the root. It loses roots because it not a blending” (Walser, p. 345). When I listen to jazz today, whether that be Duke Ellington or on a totally different spectrum Norah Jones, it seems to fade from my ideologies that jazz sounds a particular way due to race or the imitation is sounds like from artists that don’t have roots in jazz. Hancock states that he doesn’t agree with there being a way they’re supposed to play and I think that statement really has a valid point. I watch and listen to artists all the time just like Sounds Like 4 where yes, they didn’t sound exactly like “Chick” Corea’s version who was a member of Miles Davis’ band in the 60’s, BUT they played their imitation or rendition that blended well for them. What’s ironic about artists constantly talking about race, history, gender, and cultural limitations or lack of understanding from outsiders views, is the fact that I don’t believe that it takes a certain race or gender to produce a impactful sound. Chick Corea is a white, jazz and fusion pianist who was a part of Miles Davis’ predominantly black group, and is a 20-Time Grammy Winning Jazz Legend. To connect the interview that Marsalis and Hancock presented in the reading, I agree with Hancock’s view that the music of today is just a part of growth built off of traditions in the past but those should be recognized and appreciated just as much (to a certain extent I presume). The small band, Sounds Like 4 is one of millions that play renditions of songs that are familiar to the common ear to connect with the audience, but also showcase their talents and outlook on those particular songs. I think that black artists who are more offended or “whatever” about artists today trying to define jazz or present the same sound they have produced, should also look to appreciate that their impact has influenced many to strive to sound any where near the realm of talent that has been placed before them. Sounds Like 4 put on a great show on Sunday evening and made the start of my finals week, start off on a relaxing and enjoyable note because of not only the music they played, but the atmosphere and care for the audience’s preference very clear.