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270 points surprisetalk | 7 comments | | HN request time: 0.001s | source | bottom
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palata ◴[] No.45103127[source]
Many things need to be understood to be appreciated.

For instance music: we tend to like what we know, and what we know is what we hear on the radio/everywhere we go. When people tell me they don't like jazz, I always find a jazz song they like. If they say they don't like rap music, I can always find one they like. Why? Maybe because it's closer to what they already understand (making it more accessible), or maybe it has been very popular and so they've already heard it countless times (in night clubs, on the radio, ...). Most people who dislike a whole music genre generally don't really understand it and haven't put any effort into it.

You don't like churches? Go to Notre-Dame in Paris, and have someone explain to you its architecture. How they built it, how you can date the parts of the church just from its architecture.

Don't get me wrong: it's possible to dislike stuff, and it's alright. But it's worth trying to understand before disliking.

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1. tomjen3 ◴[] No.45103345[source]
I would have said no on Rap before Hamilton. I would like to know your goto for Jazz.
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2. palata ◴[] No.45103763[source]
Everyone is different of course, but if I had to try like this: do you know "Postmodern Jukebox"? :-)
3. mordechai9000 ◴[] No.45103848[source]
Not OP and not a jazz expert, just throwing out a personal favorite. I think it is very approachable without sacrificing anything, and it has a recognizable melody (which might help or hinder the jazz appreciation cause):

My Favorite Things by Coltrane.

But I do know people who dislike jazz because of the unfamiliar rhythms and (wildly flexible) musical conventions, and that can be hard to overcome.

4. xenobeb ◴[] No.45110101[source]
No rap before Hamilton is under exposure to NYC boom bap. Lin-Manuel Miranda is quite good but I am sure he wouldn't put himself on the level of Big Pun or Nas.

Miles Davis - Kind of Blue is the best selling jazz album of all time but it is still a specific sub genre of cool jazz that might put you to sleep.

Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters I think is the second best seller. I really don't know if I have ever read someone say Head Hunters sucks. It probably isn't what you expect in the same the way Hamilton sounded different to you.

I would go with those two and if you don't like either I wouldn't bother looking for more.

5. sojournerc ◴[] No.45110571[source]
Brad Mehldau for a great piano centric trio
6. taffronaut ◴[] No.45113032[source]
Most posts here seem to be offering easy on-ramp listening for jazz, but they seem at odds with the spirit of the original post. For jazz that is off-putting at first listening but rewards deeper study, consider Thelonious Monk (Blue Note sessions 1 & 2) or if you are really up for it, Coltrane's Interstellar Space.
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7. palata ◴[] No.45113698[source]
I think sometimes it's just a matter of finding an incentive. Isn't it typical for a teenager to start listening to the music of their boyfriend/girlfriend? Or of their group of friends.

My point is: I find that all the suggestions here are great! They may work differently for different people!