By Krithika Shekhar
Have you ever come out of a situation thinking how unlike yourself that was? A reaction of absolute calm, when it might have otherwise riled you up. A quick burst of anger, when on a regular day a few deep breaths might have brought you out unscathed. No matter how much you may rehearse your reaction for a particular situation, there is no assuring how you will finally end up responding. In the music world, Jazz as a genre, likens itself to these scenarios. It embraces the quick bursts and unpredictability and turns it into improvised, raw beauty.
Over the years, jazz has been both awe-inspiring to me, and a never-ending source for memes. My relationship with it evolved, from my conversations with other jazz aficionados, learning about the genre, complete bewilderment in discovering how little I know of it, finally leading to the curiosity and appreciation it deserves. How very much like people we encounter in our lives every once in a while. If there is one genre of music that teaches you acceptance in its multifariousness, it must be jazz.
While every genre has proficient musicians who elevated it with improvisation, jazz has consistently afforded us the honour of a virtuoso every few years who takes improvisation to a whole new level. With improvisation, one instrument or artist gets the space to express their creative flow in its rawest form. This, by no means, suggests superiority of one artist’s spotlight over another – quite the contrary. The beauty lies in the amalgamation of sounds that a group of people create together. The support they offer each other, uplifting the sound that reaches the audience’s ears. If there is one genre of music that can make you aware of all the different personalities that exist within us, but also point out the one that must step forward in different situations, it must be jazz.
The genre has consistently been inconsistent. The jazz age that began in the 1920s popularised a style of music that existed much before. However, since then, the style of improvisation, and the instruments that were used to highlight improvisation have evolved. A few years ago, Chick Corea, celebrated and much awarded jazz musician, spoke about how the genre never failed to adapt to the times. As technology, ideas, habits and ideas changed, so did jazz. He celebrated the fact that music brought experience and experimenting together so beautifully. How often have we had to rely on the wisdom of our experiences, yet had to adapt them to suit the course of our lives at any given point? If there is one genre that reminds you to learn from your experiences, but also wills you to live in the moment, it must be jazz.
With Singapore’s bustling jazz scene, usual haunts are bringing great jazzy melodies for everyone’s enjoyment in the month of April. With jazz events such as Jazz Power Night happening at the Maduro as well as a jazz dance and music appreciation session over at Crane. Do head down to get a taste of all that jazz and more to build your own relationship with the expressive art form.
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