This is your brain. This is your brain on Jazz...

[agent46]

This Is Your Brain On Jazz: Researchers Use MRI To Study Spontaneity, Creativity
(Adapted from materials provided by Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions.)

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080226213431.htm

ScienceDaily (Feb. 28, 2008) — A pair of Johns Hopkins and government scientists have discovered that when jazz musicians improvise, their brains turn off areas linked to self-censoring and inhibition, and turn on those that let self-expression flow.

The joint research, using functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI, and musician volunteers from the Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute, sheds light on the creative improvisation that artists and non-artists use in everyday life, the investigators say.

The scientists from the University’s School of Medicine and the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders describe their curiosity about the possible neurological underpinnings of the almost trance-like state jazz artists enter during spontaneous improvisation.

“When jazz musicians improvise, they often play with eyes closed in a distinctive, personal style that transcends traditional rules of melody and rhythm,” says Charles J. Limb, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and a trained jazz saxophonist himself. “It’s a remarkable frame of mind,” he adds, “during which, all of a sudden, the musician is generating music that has never been heard, thought, practiced or played before. What comes out is completely spontaneous.”

Listening to recordings of John Coltrane creating in the moment from one of his on-stage trances, I often wonder - how does the man DO that!!!??? Human creative potential, its modes and methods, may be one of the next great frontiers of science...

[seemslikeadream]

1. and I was just listening to Pat Metheny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSONbye6n98

[LastDemocratInSC]

17. The Way Up

[katty]

2. thx for posting, great, love all that jazz

[navarth]

3. Yes. Coltrane. Indeed yes.

Be it his fantastic hard bop recordings on Prestige, Blue Note or his post 2-5-1 recordings on Impulse, Coltrane continues to inspire.

It took me a long time to play Giant Steps comfortably. Countdown and 26-2 are still a challenge. What did happen in Coltrane's mind? The result of endless hard work, practice, study and spiritual searching, with perhaps a little Jazz Life and Heroin thrown in.

I love this article, thanks for posting.

30 years experience as a musician and glad to have lived it.

k & r

[grasswire]

4. the best thing left for us is you tube

Every night, I have a little concert of great jazz -- choosing from any number of legendary greats and today's up-and-comers. I particularly love finding all those Italians who have taken our beloved national music to heart and play it like it was theirs! It's pretty funny to see an Italian reed player singing "Sheik of Araby."

[navarth]

5. No.

The best thing left for us is to go to the jazz club of your choice and hear the cats playing.

YouTube = 2nd best.

(sorry to disagree, I understand your sentiment)

Support Your Local Jazz Club

[grasswire]

7. some of us don't live in such a place

So don't be scolding me!

I used to live in such a place, and not only went, but produced concerts, managed festivals, was president of jazz societies, and many other actions.

Now I live in a place where only you-tube and my CDs are available. What a life.

[navarth]

8. what a drag!

very sorry to hear that. did I sound like I was scolding you? oops.

you're a kindred spirit, I wouldn't do that...

nobody in your town is playing? that does suck. sorry.

well then you're absolutely right. YouTube!!

I just meant to say it was second best....no offense, really.

Cheers:toast:

[Greyskye]

12. Let Pandora do the work for you

If you're not familiar with Pandora, you should check it out. You tell Pandora what music you like by seeding it with particular artists and songs, and it rewards you with music similar to your choices.

It's free, and the music is not interrupted by advertisements. Here is a link to my Django Reindhart Radio station. My sig file below links to my Kitchen Sink station that plays all of the wildly different types of music that I like.

Check 'em out, and create your own Pandora station. You'll be really glad that you did! :D

[agent46]

6. Great Jazz Radio - live internet feed!

If you love Jazz, or are interested in learning more about it, this is the radio station for you: KCSM 91.1 Bay Area.

They have a live internet feed and you can listen from anywhere in the world! All Jazz! Great programming, interviews, retrospectives, knowledgeable DJ's. Fantastic music! Dedicated to getting the word out and keeping the art-form alive; so please enjoy the bounty!

http://www.kcsm.org/jazz91/listen.php

B-)

[navarth]

9. It's worthwhile to mention itunes, as well...

The radio section in itunes has some good classical and jazz stations. And it has radio power, where I first heard Thom Hartmann, Mike Malloy, Rhandi Rhodes, Peter Werbe....

itunes actually changed my life, come to think of it

[Fire Walk With Me]

10. But can science explain "Guitar Face"?

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=guitar+face&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2

[DavidDvorkin]

11. My brain on jazz would look like scrambled eggs

That's why I avoid that ghastly noise.

[Indenturedebtor]

13. yeah not a fan personally

I do like Swing Jazz, and some other structured jazz... but I'm not into the spontaneous emissions of other peoples brains. :shrug:

Interesting article though!

[DavidDvorkin]

14. the spontaneous emissions of other peoples brains

Hah! That's it.

[laststeamtrain]

15. Good jazz station here.

http://www.sky.fm/jazz/ & thanks for the article.

[agent46]

16. cool

I'll check it out! thanks!
:toast: