A couple of months ago, Yussef Dayes had a show at Variety Playhouse here in Atlanta. In preparation for the show, I took a super deep dive into his music, which then led me down a rabbit hole of listening to jazz. Whenever I listen to jazz at a high frequency, a question always pops into mind: Why do the worlds of jazz and jam artists rarely combine?
These two worlds of music that focus so hard on improvisation, musical talent, and a fanbase rabid to see how far these bands can push the sound, why is it so rare that we get a night of “Jazz n Jam?” Jazz artists’ number one complaint when I have had the opportunity to talk to them is, “Why doesn’t the crowd dance?” Why is jazz so locked into the seated setting? Bring these artists to the jam scene and let them see a crowd shake their booty to their amazing sound.
Jazz artists that have broken into the jam scene are revered at the highest level. Medeski Martin and Wood, Benenvento Russo Duo, Snarky Puppy, and Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey always get massive praise from the jam world. I would love to continue to see more and more artists come into the jam scene.
Jazz songs get massive praise when played in the jam world. It feels like literally every jam band ever has covered Bob James’ Nautilus at one point or another, and everyone flips out each time. Miles Davis’ Black Satin gets a ton of love, Herbie Hancock songs get played a good amount, and so many of the Jam Bands we know and love put the titans of jazz fusion in their list of artists that inspired them and changed their lives. So why are these bands not bringing up and coming new jazz artists to open for them?
Miles Davis once spoke about opening for the Grateful Dead in an interview. He recalled playing the Bitches Brew music for their crowd, how they all really got into it, and how much he loved those moments. Even smooth jazz artists like Euge Groove, Jazz Funk Soul, Boney James, and so many more would fit so perfectly into the jam ecosystem.
Umphrey’s McGee’s has had runs with Saxophone Virtuoso Joshua Redman, Lettuce’s runs with John Scofield, and The Grateful Dead’s unbelievable run with Branford Marsalis are all MUST-LISTEN-TO material. Please let us continue to make stuff like this happen.
Before everyone comes at me, FUNK bands do not count. Lettuce, The New Mastersounds, The Motet, Orgone, Polyrhythmics, and all these bands that use funky, dancey, and borderline jazzy jams are amazing, and I think these are the bands that we can use to really make our worlds combine, but they aren’t the “Jazz” I’m hoping to bring to the table.
Examples of combinations of artists I would put together for tours/a run of shows:
GoGo Penguin and STS9 – Listen to GoGo Penguin’s newest album Everything Is Going to Be OK and tell me that GoGo’s pianist wouldn’t crush with Phipps on any STS9 Song, and vice versa, Phipps jamming with GoGo Penguin.
Yussef Dayes Experience and Lettuce – Funk/Jazz/Jam Heaven. Deitch + Yussef. Need I say more?
Alfa Mist and Umphrey’s McGee – Alfa Mist is an unbelievable keys player that also combines a lot of elements of hip hop into his “Jazz” music. Have Alfa and his band open, setting the tone for a night of musical mastery before bringing him up with the Umphrey’s boys for a face-shredding jazz masterpiece.
Matthew Halsall and Lotus – Matthew Halsall is a trumpet player who writes jazz music that makes you feel like you are floating on clouds, much like how Spiritualized, Caywood, and many other Lotus songs make us all feel. Give me a smooth, trippy, and glorious Lotus jam with Matthew Halsall floating on top any day!
Four80East and The Disco Biscuits – Four80East is one of the grooviest jazz bands I’ve ever listened to, and they also have a dash of electronic to them. This is a match made in heaven for the dance-happy crowd of the Disco Biscuits.
Lastly, why aren’t Jam Bands bringing “swing” jazz jams more to the table? Jams like 7/21/2018 Spafford Peachfest Peach Jam, which starts out with an amazing jazz jam before molding into a epic jam and clocking in at 21 minutes. This is the kind of stuff we dream of here at FunkCity.net!
Listening suggestions in regards to this topic:
- GoGo Penguin – Everything Is Going to Be OK
- Alfa Mist – Antiphon
- Yussef Dayes – Black Classical Music
- Matthew Halsall – An Ever Changing View
- Robert Glasper – Literally any album
- Special EFX – Twenty Twenty 2
- Four80East – En Route or Straight Round
- Down to the Bone – Dig It
- Jazz Funk Soul – Self Titled Album
Thanks for reading! #WhyWeJamWednesdays