Re: Music Descriptions

["Stephen P. Goodman" <sgoodman@primenet.com>]

Kim Corbet commented about the use of the word 'jazz' as a label for
ambient material, and I thought I'd add in some marketing/radio history
that coincides.  In the Los Angeles area, the radio station playing soft
rock/etc., KTWV ("The Wave") started out in '86-7 billing itself as a kind
of ambient station, playing pieces from Steve Reich, Brian Eno, Philip
Glass, and even on occasion King Crimson pieces in the vein of "Matte
Kudasai"; concurrently I began seeing the Music Plus's and Wherehouse's in
the area sporting a "New Age" section in the places formerly occupied by
labels like "Electronic" and "Experimental".

For the past year or so, The Wave - perhaps it's called the same thing in
'your' town - has been sporting the term 'soft jazz', which caused me to
think again of this term.  Perhaps the term 'jazz' is ethereal and
undefined enough to get away with as an umbrella, but isn't it just a
label, after all?  I wonder what true jazz enthusiasts and musicians would
think.  Anyone?

* Stephen Goodman            It's the Loop Of The Week!  And it's free!
* EarthLight Productions      http://www.primenet.com/~sgoodman/Studios