That Jazz - Monkey Max Music and File Download

228
Part III: The Beat Goes On: Jazz Appreciation 101
In this chapter, I tell you how to guarantee the best possible concert experience,
from researching and choosing the performers you want to hear, to
finding a good seat, behaving appropriately at the show, and figuring out
which clubs in other cities may be worth a road trip.
Live music performed in a room is multidimensional in profound ways that I
doubt can ever be captured by a recording. Sure, you could pop a DVD into
your home theater system, but live music is unbeatable. The facial expressions
of performers add emotional impact, and the techniques of the bands
may amaze you.
Do Your Homework: Researching
Different Artists
So you want to hear some live jazz? Before you start filling your schedule
with concerts, you have to dig around a little for some information. You may
not know which artists are planning on visiting your area, or you may be
strapped for cash (or time!) and need to limit the number of concerts you
attend. And even if you already have a good idea which artists you want to
hear when they come to town, you still need to do some homework. With a
bit of research, you can find out
� Where your city falls on a performer’s tour (later is usually better
because they’re in the groove)
� What their newest album sounds like
� Who’s in the touring band (it’s probably different than the one on the CD)
� Which older tunes are likely to be featured along with new material
In the following sections, you decide on shows to see by finding basic tour
details and tracking down tour reviews.
Searching for basic information
about musicians and tours
Musicians, when they perform at your local club or concert hall, are frequently
in the midst of a regional or national tour. Looking at several different
resources, such as Web sites and newspapers, can help you find out
which songs they’re playing, who’s playing with them, and whether they
seem to be sounding good.