Lost a friend today...

[MilesColtrane]

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2007/10/every_time_we_say_goodbye_the.php


I've had the privilege of playing with Marchel over the past 15+ years.

Even more important though was the privilege of knowing him as a friend and a great, warm, and generous human being.

This one hurts.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

1. Curious: Do jazz musicians call themselves "jazzers"?

I know "jazzman" and "jazzmen" are used by the music community, but I've always been curious if "jazzer" is as well or if that's a name "civilians," as my jazz teacher calls the non-musicians, have bestowed on them.

Sorry if that seems off topic. I am very sad to hear of the passing of a friend. :hug:

[MilesColtrane]

2. Hi WIMR

Most musicians I know are pretty ambivalent about the word jazz.

I never liked being called a jazz player, because a word that means everything, (I've heard it used to describe the music of Louis Armstrong, Ornette Coleman, Weather Report, Kenny G, and Sade.) ends up meaning nothing.

On the practical side, once you become known as a jazz player, people stop calling you to for other types of gigs.


So no, never heard another musician call anyone a "jazzer" or "jazzman". Usually when describing one musician to another it's "she can play", "he's a player" , or "he can f****** swing his ass off".

Thanks for your words of sympathy.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

3. That's very interesting.

I suppose most would try to avoid being pegged as any one type of musician, since it does cut down on the number of gigs you'd get. I just asked because I'm very interested in modern music culture/practices/sociology, all that good stuff. I have some contact with gigging musicians, but not much. It's interesting to think that musicians try not to go by genre so as to get a wide variety of gigs.

:hi:

[applegrove]

4. Sorry.