| Different styles of music have different | | | | course, I'm not saying that this can'thappen |
| "sounds." We canall pretty much agree on that | | | | in Jazz, but, just watch a Jazz performer and |
| point. For example, Jazz usesseventh chords | | | | you'll seewhat I mean. |
| almost exclusively. This, and the kind of | | | | |
| chordprogressions used in Jazz gives it its | | | | Last but not least is rhythm. Let's do a |
| unique flavor. But whatabout new age music? | | | | comparison/contrastbetween Jazz and New Age |
| Does it have it's own special ingredients? | | | | music. Jazz has a definite discerniblerhythm. |
| | | | It is what makes Jazz Jazz. New age music can |
| Yes it does. | | | | have apattern or an underlying rhythm to the |
| | | | music. It can be used tocreate trance like |
| Now, there are no hard and fast rules here | | | | states in the listener. Drums are usuallya |
| but for the mostpart, new age music is a | | | | part of Jazz music. Percussion is mostly |
| consonant music. That is, there islittle or | | | | absent from the New |
| noharshness going on in the music. No Saxes | | | | |
| wailingand what not. Having said that we can | | | | Age sound simply because it would not add to |
| eliminate most of thetense jazz chords and | | | | the atmosphere most New Age musicians create. |
| their voicing. So what are we left with? | | | | Timing is very important to the Jazz |
| | | | musician. The soloist has the freedom to play |
| Mostly Major and minor chords based on the | | | | whatever he wants as long as he maintains the |
| regular scales andthe modes. The chord | | | | meter and stays in time. New Age music is |
| progressions are simpler and usually starton | | | | more elastic in that timing is there, but is |
| the l chord. No ll-V-l progressions here. | | | | not a master of the player. The New Age |
| | | | player can disregard time altogether. |
| What about melody? In jazz, we have a soloist | | | | |
| who usually playsa lot of chromatic notes. | | | | Just listen to Zen flute music as a good |
| This is rare in new age music becauseit would | | | | example of this. |
| create dissonance. New age melodies tend to | | | | |
| be softerand more on the spiritual side. | | | | Now, what does all this mean for the aspiring |
| Solos, if there are any, are notso much | | | | New Age musician? A couple of good things. It |
| concerned with the expression of the self | | | | means that there is a definite new age |
| than they arewith letting the music express | | | | |
| itself. A subtle but very | | | | "sound" out there. That it is here to stay |
| importantdistinction. Jazz players may have | | | | and that people likeand need to hear it. And |
| some ego invested in theirperformance. New | | | | it means that there are some guidelinesout |
| age musicians learn to let the music play | | | | there for what defines the meaning of New Age |
| them. | | | | music. |
| | | | |
| They learn to become a channel for the music | | | | Article written by Edward Weiss. |
| itself allowing itto speak through them. Of | | | | |