I chose to add this article as a “Bonus Feature” to our new “9rules Music Community Recommends (1)” series because what you wrote here is right on the money. I’ve been a jazz fan for many years and I’m a regular on the three largest jazz forums. One of my main complaints has always been that jazz fans are just too elitist (and that’s putting it mildly).

On top of that, I think jazz music is an acquired taste. I grew up with it because my dad played it whenever he was home, and some of the first real music I heard, aside from children’s tunes, was - get this - Charlie Parker. I think I was 6 or seven years old. I really liked it, and my parents explained stuff to me if I had a question, but I just loved that trumpet sound.

Being a teacher myself, I notice today that many parents just don’t have the time or don’t take the time to listen to music together with their children. That’s perhaps why jazz doesn’t catch on with kids. I loved Be-Bop, Swing (especially Basie, Goodman, Miller, and later Thad Jones and more modern representatives of big band jazz), but today, most parents - even if they do spend the time - don’t have the foggiest when it comes to jazz. It’s a self-reproductory system, unfortunately.

Still, I try my best to add my voice to the chorus.

I also linked to another article from outside of 9rules, giving some ideas on how to get your friends interested in jazz. Check it out via 9rules.com.

Thanks for this article.

I enjoyed reading it.

Cheers!