something I am grateful for today
Apr. 7th, 2026 12:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
johncomicregaining my love for free jazz
Every now and then, I spend a year (or two) (or three) immersed in a new musical obsession... and in the early eighties, I spent about three years where the vast majority of what I listened to was free jazz. [The Art Ensemble of Chicago and OM were particular faves.] Eventually I burned out on it some, and decided to wait til I was in the mood to hear it. And that mood rarely came. [I gather I'm not alone in finding that music demanding to listen to, it requires actual energy and focus.] Many years went by where I said "pass" every time the opportunity arose.
But recently I was browsing thru old albums, came across some free, and unexpectedly decided I could muster the gumption to tackle it. And it paid off. I was exhilarated and satisfied in the way unique to those sounds. Since then I've been going back there much more often, but no longer to the exclusion of all else. Pacing myself better seems to allow me to enjoy it more now, in my dotage. I've also discovered that new bands have been working in this area all along, and there are lots of new things for me to discover....
Every now and then, I spend a year (or two) (or three) immersed in a new musical obsession... and in the early eighties, I spent about three years where the vast majority of what I listened to was free jazz. [The Art Ensemble of Chicago and OM were particular faves.] Eventually I burned out on it some, and decided to wait til I was in the mood to hear it. And that mood rarely came. [I gather I'm not alone in finding that music demanding to listen to, it requires actual energy and focus.] Many years went by where I said "pass" every time the opportunity arose.
But recently I was browsing thru old albums, came across some free, and unexpectedly decided I could muster the gumption to tackle it. And it paid off. I was exhilarated and satisfied in the way unique to those sounds. Since then I've been going back there much more often, but no longer to the exclusion of all else. Pacing myself better seems to allow me to enjoy it more now, in my dotage. I've also discovered that new bands have been working in this area all along, and there are lots of new things for me to discover....
