Re: sampling & evolution & capitalism in music

tobiasb@together.net
Wed, 12 Feb 1997 09:42:02 +0000


> it more of a challenge to be artistic, and *still* keep butts
moving, but
> there's definitely a point in artistic evolution where you don't want to be
> constrained by anything other than what you're hearing in your head...

With this I have to agree wholeheartedly. Being artistic and trying to
keep the butts moving can be very challenging. But so exciting. That is
where I see the evolution of jazz and acid jazz.
Although, I have to say that at times I find myself frustrated feeling
like I have to meet that requirement, as a trained jazz
musician/composer that wants to be playing "acid-jazz". Playing
straight ahead jazz doesn't really do it for me too much these days. It
isn't my experience. It isn't my generation, and I guess doesn't really
speak to me in the way that acid-jazz does.
I often feel caught in between two different types of music (as a
listener and performer), trying to cut a whole through the wall that
exists between acid-jazz and jazz. And why do they have to be labled
seperately? (I've heard that in San Francisco that acid jazz is just
called jazz. Is that true? Are they refering specifically to Charlie
Hunter et al.?)
For the most part, I think that the seperation exists because of the
market and the capitalist effect on music. So as
musicians/artists/composers we are limited (yet perhaps inspired) by the
corporate mentality of our culture and listeners. This isn't a bust on
anybody's political views. . .but rather an observation of music's role
within our society. I suppose that evolution develops from challenge
and the need for diversity.

>
> i feel that sampling is just part of a paradigm shift were experiencing
> culturally (pre-millenium tension?).
>

Interesting point. I was thinking the same thing in a way. Look at the
early stages of many different styles of music. Look at 50's rock and
roll. These days that kind of music is classic. It is excellent for what
it is. . .but look at where it has gone (for better or worse). It served
as a major spring board for so many different styles of music -including
rock. Look at the beginnings of rap (I'm talking straight ahead rap,
early 80's ?), and how much it has grown and how developed it has
become. So perhaps sampling, which is still somewhat "controversial,"
will too develop into something beyond our imaginations and considered
to be a tool of composition. That would be evolution.

brian