Actually this may not be true... Jazz players try never to play the same number the same way. If you intend for *similar* to mean another rendition of the *same* song, then that's missing the point... Two versions of Coltrane's "Love Supreme", for example, can sound very different (albeit in the same melodic context). Jazz regulars (listeners) hanker for "dissimilarities" between performances of the same number: either by the same player or by different players. The reason Jazz has so many more "standards", is that it provides common ground for players to show "dissimilarities" through very personal "improvisational skills". For the listener, standards provide "comfortably known confines", so that they don't have worry about a new theme and can concentrate on what's exciting... the improvisation. (I am not trying to take away from original comps.. but that's a digression from this conversation.). I'm not sure this applies to even gourmet cooking... whereas two chefs from different parts of Spain may have distinct renditions of paella, I'm not sure that EACH chef's dish would taste very different on two occasions. Or would it? I am willing to be educated here... Madhu?? On another note: I have found that the best way to introduce Jazz to a newbie is to get them to listen to a jazz version of a song that they know well... then, those that take to jazz, do so, predominantly, because they like the "dissimilarities" between performances. The flirtation with risqué notes is thrilling when the context is familiar. A highly recommended primer is Coltrane's version of Julie Andrew's "My Favourite Things". Jazz fans.. any other songs you can think of to get someone to start listening? I remember there being a post a while ago expressing an interest in Jazz..
Adit. On Wed, Dec 3, 2008 at 1:41 PM, Udhay Shankar N <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Similarly, a jazz guitarist (to take perhaps the most improvisational of > the performing arts, just to make my point) still needs to play > *similarly* night after night, to connect with his crowd of regulars and > those they persuade to show up. > > > -- > ((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com)) > >
