How to Listen to Jazz - Tips from a Jazz Professor

Dr. Jared Sims, Associate Professor and Director of Jazz Studies at West Virginia University, tells us what he listens for in jazz and what you can do to dive deeper into music and increase your own enjoyment of jazz music. Helpful for newbies and jazz aficionados alike.
This was a fascinating conversation and we will be posting more of it in the coming days. If you have even a passing interest in jazz, you'll want to watch the whole thing.
Follow the WVU Jazz Studies Program on Facebook: / wvujazzstudio and Instagram / wvu_jazzstudio - and check out their website: www.music.wvu.edu/jazz
Follow Jared on Instagram / jaredsims and check out his latest single, Awakenings, inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement: helpgive.to/Awakenings
This interview was recorded on May 21, 2020
Thumbnail photo by Jens Thekkeveettil: jensth.com

[@theSOUNDinterpreter]

I got into jazz in early 2023 and I can’t believe how hooked I am. I have maybe 50 jazz records now and have a collection of 24 blue note records. So addicting to listen to

[@wutang3464]

Jazz is the life.. i don't know why when I listen to jazz my mind goes to midnight bar or silent street in night with lights .. wow

[@beaujac311]

wutang3464:. That's funny. I'm the exact opposite. When I listen to jazz my mind goes to a beautiful blue skies sunny day. That's odd because we all know that most jazz is affiliated with the after hours clubs.

[@sangeethanarayananmusic]

Thank you very much for the tip 🙏

[@wutang3464]

Thank you professor 🎷❤

[@ramjet118]

I listen to the story that the piece tells me.

[@Cyborg_Lenin]

I feel like i would like jazz. . . but it looks like a whole different world of music. Anyone knows something heavier? Im coming from progressive metal, so i do like chaotic complex and instrumental music. Any recommendations?

[@dynamis8381]

Listen to bitches brew

[@dynamis8381]

Or listen to kamasi Washington- the epic

[@LinearTubeAudio]

Jazz is as varied - or more - as any musical genre. You might like the move avant garde groups. Check out the band BadBadNotGood for a contemporary band putting out great music. They have a new album just released in the last month or so.

[@playboi1123]

Listen to sun ra

[@subi_legacy]

just get over it

[@mikronano8996]

When you start to listen jazz, your taste of music will change slowly. Maybe after 2 years you'll be able to really enjoy it. I am listening jazz from late 2017 and i just started to enjoy it. Dont forget it. But remember jazz is like a woman always need an attention.

[@AnthonyGargini]

Bebop takes longer than anything else. Charlie Parker, etc

[@Ignasimp]

@@AnthonyGargini well. I'm no jazz listener. I listen a lot to the divas (Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Beyonce, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, Patti Labelle...), I also listen to quite some gospel and soul music, some blues and country and opera and traditional byzantine and arabic music. And even though I don't like jazz that much I think bebop is the one that feels more accessible to me, for some reason.

[@AnthonyGargini]

@@Ignasimp interesting. I feel like it's more of an acquired taste

[@Ignasimp]

@@AnthonyGargini bebop has a more funky and sometimes epic feel that I like. Other types of jazz feel too slow.

[@AnthonyGargini]

@@Ignasimp yeah I get that. I think I like a more modern version of bebop than Charlie Parker for example. More like something Chick Corea would play

[@modfather1964]

Foxy lady.... Sving!!!

[@timmycz11]

Jazz was a creative act, to be listened and appreciated "as is". Fast forward in 2023, we are now taught "how to listen to jazz", like if it was some academic thing. Music schools are ruining jazz the same way it ruined baroque/classical/romantic/(...) music.

[@duroxkilo]

the question is not necessarily technical but maybe more of a helping tip for the 'uninitiated'...

[@beaujac311]

timmycz11:. I thought the guy in this video would say some crazy stuff on how to listen too jazz. That was the only reason why I click on this video. I like how he explained how to listen to it. Really all he said was to listen to more of it. I liked that explanation. I would tell them to start with the famous vocalists. Once they get used to the sound of that music they will start to open up the none vocal form.

[@jaysonbiggs8979]

A director of a university Jazz Studies Department who doesn't listen to vocals, does not pay attention to the language the song is being sung in, does not listen to the lyrics. And then recommends the Songbook albums of Ella Fitzgerald. And people wonder why Jazz has a tiny audience.

[@aaronhanson7241]

you may want to consider reevaluating this at some point later in life

[@centuryfiles9558]

They're mad that you're right

[@tomscott1741]

It's sad how people can only appreciate music if there are words to help them understand a little bit of what Harmony is. The thing that makes music beautiful is music. Words can be beautiful and mesh well with it, but it's the music itself is what gives it its transcendental quality. It's a shame so many people need words to be able to understand music. Music is deeper than words are. It's the oldest language there is. And nothing speaks more deeply of the human soul and existence itself than music. Not words, but music.

[@anthonybulluck8050]

Beautifully articulated!

[@anthonybulluck8050]

@jayson biggs - well said!

[@juliusmorris4751]

Dude on the left didn’t positively contribute to the theme of this video. Sounding quite pretentious like many of y’all in these comments. Understanding the the inter workings of a sax isn’t necessary to enjoy jazz. Having context of how elements of tone and speed are used to shape a particular atmosphere.

[@rinathama]

I loved his takeaway.... it's great for someone who's learning to play.