How to Murder Jazz: An Interview with Chris Bittner (We are All CBitty)

[@rossmazer6980]

Man great choice! Studied with Bitty during the early years of the pandemic and he was just what I needed. He turned me into a daily practicer and I even transcribed a bunch. Truly kind soul and a great teacher. Thanks.

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

No doubt! Always love hearing this dude preach :)

[@augustfrisby2447]

Gotta get Willie Morris on here. Another future giant of the music who did his masters at Juliard

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

I'll check him out! Listened to some he sounds great 🚀

[@tenbroekjazz]

Love these, keep them coming!

[@GeoffVidal]

Loved this bro. Really appreciate hearing him break it all down. Awesome stuff!

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Yessir, its always great getting to hear these types of explanations... I should ask you some questions soon 👀

[@alexquinn_]

WE ARE ALL C BITTY #MAKEUPCOMPANY

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

😅

[@jacobsinclair1]

I cbitty, my father cbitty, my mother cbitty, my brother cbitty. We are all cbitty.

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

😅

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

In Bitty We Trust

[@JeffreySaxophoneTallNewton]

I'm not CBitty, never heard of him. I'm me, I've played saxophone for 51 years, keyboards for 4 more than that. And I don't sound like everybody else. CBitty sounds nice, though. Jazz has been dead for many years now; it's dead last in listenership and going down fast. And there are a number of reasons for that. Jazz needs resurrecting, not murdering. Fun thumbnail title, though.

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

You sound a lot like CBitty to me... are you sure you're not him? JK of course... 😅 And yeah there's definitely a lot of jazz musicians that do a great job of alienating their audience but I wouldn't blame the music for that. I would disagree and say that 'Jazz Listenership' is at an all time high depending on who you ask. It doesnt matter what people are into, when they hear a good show with a bandleader who aknowledges the audience, they remember it and most likely come back and hear that band again. I think the problem you're speaking of is live music and the night life scene in general. The title was something that was mentioned in the interview toward the end regarding how you can play a lot of 'incorrect' notes but if your rhythm is hip you will still play convincing phrases.

[@JeffreySaxophoneTallNewton]

@@SaxophoneSteveKortyka You can play any note you please ... if you know who to do it. Jazz audiences are dead last. Better in Europe, though. Headed there next month! I don't sound anything like this guy, and I have a much longer nickname... and reeds twice his age.... I wish the "Jazz industry" would pay at least SOME attention to us "veterans" who are not big stars instead of just focusing on the kids, who have plenty of time ahead of them, whereas we do not.

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

@@JeffreySaxophoneTallNewton Jazz audiences are dead last... ok got it! Theres definitely sold out shows at major jazz venues across the globe - I would certainly put it ahead of the Gregorian Chant audience. Yes Jazz is not as widely appreciated but this is not new news. You might want to get some new reeds if you're playing on ones that are 50+ years old 😅 I'm interviewing my friends and people that inspire me. Those do tend to be younger players because they make themselves more accessible via social media and other platforms - Its not that I don't care about veterans. I don't really have the ability to interview somebody I don't know is there and know nothing about.

[@JeffreySaxophoneTallNewton]

@@SaxophoneSteveKortyka Those are very valid points; we all have limited resources. As a savvy social media guru myself, I only spend my music promotion time and money where it does me the most good as well. Best wishes in your endeavors. BTW, Gregorian Chant rocks! Been listening to it since 1969.