Jazz, and most music is identified firstly by it's rhythm. That's why
"fusion" is not jazz. It was funk (a mixture of R&B, Boogie and Rock played often
with slap or fretless electric bass) with improvised AND written melody played
over it using modern and acoustic instruments. Such as Jeff Lorber - Piano,
Rhodes, Moog, Oberheim, / Funk Bass/ R&B and Rock drumming/ Saxophone and
acoustic guitar. Early Jazz used the "swing" rhythm (broken eighths), almost
inaudible bass drum and guitar, upright bass and somewhat complex harmony. Which
brings us to #2. Complex harmony with almost continuous re voicing of chords
(chord substitution) is mandatory. Without interesting rhythm and chord
changes you are soloing over boredom. Elements of Jazz are easily defined. If it
"feels" like jazz, it probably is. Music as well as America are in continuous
flux and change. When we categorize written and recorded tunes we are merely
putting labels on "snapshots in time". Actual unrecorded music is gone as
soon as it is played and does not EVER exist collectively, but over time. Music
invokes emotion and expression. What can Karma do for this? I really don't
know. But I like to play as much as I can. Finding good musicians in a low pay
or (God forbid) no pay environment results in bizarre decisions. I've seen
people improvise over nothing. The background was imagined. I've seen people
play in ridiculous duo's like drum and sax. Karma is interesting, but hardly
human. However Karma should be an improvement over backing tapes and midi
files which play back exactly the same way all the time. This is boring for the
soloist and repeat listeners. Karma is more inspiring.
Chris
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