I have noticed that there are a multitude of individuals who enjoy classical music- as they should! And if you want to get a great debate going, you will rarely find anyone without an opinion about the greatest rock band of all time, or the rapper who most influenced them. All of those things are totally cool, I have a great appreciation for all kinds of music, and have my favorites in each genre as well. But when it comes to Jazz, where are all of the fans? It seems like most 20 somethings either can't stand it, or when asked who their favorite Jazz musician is, replies with "I guess Louis Armstrong."
Don't get me wrong, old Louis is a trumpeter for the ages, but is that the most us young people know about Jazz? Have we forgotten that Jazz is one of the first truly American art forms? With this in mind, don't you think we should take a little more pride in our own music?
And keep in mind, that there are many, many, many types of Jazz out there. If you want the classic New Orleans style, try Wynton Marsalis. A nice piano based Jazz? Bill Evans. Or if you are really looking to expand your horizons, a little Sun Ra.
I realize that if any of my musician friends read this, they will have lots to say- they all have an appreciation for Jazz, even if they do not perform the music themselves. But, shouldn't we at least give Jazz a chance? It is one of the last truly creative and spontaneous art forms left.