Do you think the popularity of jazz will keep fading?

Question

I mean not as many people listen to it as they used to.

I know but New Orleans is only one place. I'm not saying I hope it does. I hope it doesn't. I just wanted to know what other people thought.

Answer 1

I don't think it is going to fade, nor that it is fading as is. Unfortunately it does not have the mass appeal that rock music has, but there are always people that are into it, and it will always go in cycles on getting more or less popular. THe number of jazz clubs out there is clear evidence that it isn't going away. It is also that jazz is in a weird spot right now in that it is trying to get away from the "smooth jazz" of Kenny G, but also trying to do something new compared to where it has been before. If/when some one comes along with some new idea of jazz, popularity will go up as people will get something new and different.

Answer 2

As an answer I can only give you my french vision on jazz evolution : and it is absolutely not fading.

First, more and more musicians come to jazz when learning to play music in music high-schools, where you are supposed to learn classical music. Jazz lessons and teachers are becoming very easy to find.

You can also observe an increasing number of jazz festivals. A few years ago, there were only very well known "jazz a vienne" and "Marciac Jazz Festival", both I suppose you should have heard one day. Now, there are plenty of jazz festivals (Nice, Grenoble, etc).

And last but not least, I know a lot of young people, aged between 20 and 30, who come and ask me "what jazz artist should I listen to ?"... A lot of young actives, used to rock, are willing to discover a gender they never really cared for, because jazz is, there, and as well as classical music, losing its reputation of "cocktail music" it had.

In the same time, it is true that jazz music is losing its "club music" status. parisians clubs are closing their doors nowadays.

But I'm pretty convinced that jazz popularity isn't fading at all. Be-Bop, Hard-Bop, Fusion-Jazz and Rock-Jazz don't look like they are coming to an end at all.

Answer 3

Fading? Where are you getting your facts? Jazz has not faded at all in popularity, except in airheads who listen to 'Brittney', morons who only listen to Country, and shredders/headbangers who listen to metal.

The largest surge of population in the history of the world (the Baby Boomers, of which I am a member) are buying jazz recordings in record numbers these days. Most of the music that was recorded 40 years ago or earlier is selling better now than it did when it was originally released.

You must understand that Jazz is a true American art form and will be looked upon historically as important as any other music from eras past, such as baroque, classical, romantic, impressionist or any other number of orchestral genres.

Jazz has and will continue to endure the test of time. Do you think Brittney, Jessica or J-Lo will? I think they are already finished, don't you?

Answer 4

I honestly don't think it will as long as we keep young ppl interested in it. I was a trumpet player in H.S. and I was introduced to it a 15 yrs old and I still listen to it. Big Bands like Stan Kenton were very inspirational to me because of the sounds that they produced, with composers like Hank Levy, Don Ellis, and Johnny Richards. I think if school systems had teachers that jazz backgrounds are going to keep jazz alive and well, that is if they are funded of course. I'm from Indiana and I think that jazz music is pretty popular there in the school system, just as much as marching band is too, they take that seriously in Indiana.

Answer 5

The 40's was a rich period with Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Eric Dolphy, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and so many others. the 70's were also revolutionary with Chick Corea's Return To Forever, Weather Report with Jaco Pastorius & Peter Erskine, Billy Cobham, Keith Jarrett, etc. So now we wait for the next revolution. Here's a question loved by jazzers: What did Kenny G. say as he stepped into the elevator?
"THIS MUSIC RULES!!"

Answer 6

Rhythm and Blues, then Elvis then The Beatles and the upward thrust of youngsters custom/advertising and marketing all especially plenty swept away jazz from the scene of extensive-unfold track. Jazz grew to become regularly occurring as a greater severe form of track

Answer 7

I share this same fear that it will become the polka music for the armchair rockers one day. As the country continues to dumb down and the young set follow each other, everything looks ominous, including musical quality. The upside is you and I will be able to finally get cuts at garage sales for a "song"!!!
The SF Bay area scene is steady but only ONE radio station is left devoted to jazz: KCSM, of San Mateo, CA.

Answer 8

i'm in love with jazz.
most people i know are too much into rock and pop crap to care, but some people...
are still into it.
i think, like with classical genres, jazz is for the more "upper class" people if you like...
it's a more complex music genre and the average person is too stupid to listen to it or understand it and appreciate it and want to listen to it.
but hey, jazz is my fave type of music, like many others hopefully, so there's still hope.

Answer 9

I think Jazz is more popular among young people then it was 10 or 20 years ago....

Answer 10

You apparently haven't seen pictures from the New Orleans annual JazzFest-it's packed every year.