Jazz music is often heard, by those unfamiliar with it, to be a random noise, no clear melody, lots of instruments playing over each other and no clear structure.

That’s understandable, because Jazz tries to be a more sophisticated music with an emphasis on avoiding simple basic chords , melodies and musical expression and replaces it , at times with multi layered , inter weaving rythmns and melodies, often avoiding clear adjectives of emotion.

In other words, it describes our emotions in more than one simple adjective such as sad , happy, playful etc and says that these are not enough to truly describe any human emotion. All of our emotions our multi facted, many layed,conflicted and ever changing.

This is relflected by using dissonace,notes which when harmonised, create tension, which may or may not resolve, or be delayed in resolving. Rythmns which can be destabilised, upset or constant and looped. Often there are implied pulses, shared beats between instruments, anticipated or delayed notes, again designed to relect our lives, where nothing is truly and consistantly dependable and harmonious.

Jazz in comtemporary times has many off – shoots. Some, where beautiful or disturbing melodies are at the centre , others where it’s a group conversation with many voices talking at once and others where the use of technology is dominant and allows for experimentation.

There are many genres and sub-genres of Jazz, but i love it because of its incredible ability to express so much, and also being life enhancing and  life affirming.