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[Lionel Mandrake]

98. Jazz is like classical music in several ways.

I mean classical music in the broad sense (including music of the baroque, classical, romantic, ... periods). All of that is a diminishing part of the market for CDs and radio programs. And the same is true of jazz.

Classical and jazz are both now respectable; they are taught in conservatories and in the music departments of colleges and universities.

The audience for a jazz concert, like that for a classical concert, usually includes people who are familiar with the forms and conventions. Each tradition (classical or jazz) has a rich history. The audience is expected to behave in a way appropriate to the type of music being played. Applause following a solo is expected in jazz, although it should be brief so as not to interfere too much with the next solo. In a classical concert, applause should never interrupt the music. So the traditions are different. But each form has its own tradition.

Some people say that jazz is America's classical music. I wouldn't exactly disagree, but America has also contributed to the genre usually called classical.

I suppose it's inevitable that bad music will drown out good music in the commercialized world we live in. I consider myself fortunate to live in a place where there are non-commercial FM classical and jazz stations (one of each).