Jazz Bums
Somewhere along the way, I haven't determined exactly when, it became acceptable for some musicians to think showing up for live (Jazz) performances wearing the same clothes that they wear anywhere else is the thing to do. These days it isn't that uncommon that a patron of the music, with hard-earned cash in hand, will venture out for an evening with hopes of enjoying some high art but instead will be offered a gig where some of the cats who perform will actually show up and get on stage with prominent holes and stains in/on their jeans, wrinkled and tattered t-shirts, dirty sneakers, visible underwear, greasy, unwashed hair (or bodies), dirty fingernails, or worse.... What the hell happened? When did it become acceptable for performers to look like they don't give a s--t? A quick look at any vintage photograph featuring the champions of the music reveals how much detail went into how they looked as well as how they sounded. Neither was any accident. (For that matter, look at the early photos of the Beatles....SUITS.) So why must the prestigious and noble face of the music be tarnished now with this mass nose thumbing at one of the more important aspects of performance etiquette? Irons are cheap and there's a dry cleaners on every other corner.
Now, don't get me wrong, in my private life, I'm just as casual and relaxed in my dress as anyone else. Sometimes I would even classify my look at home as "homeless chic". But once I step outside my house and venture into the world where simple minded people sometimes size you up immediately before you even have a chance to speak... well, let me just offer this to any of you who happen NOT to be a Black man who is always followed and eyed suspiciously whenever he decides to peruse the items in any retail establishment..if this was a constant part of your life that went back as far as you could remember, then you would understand why it is imperative to appear in public at all times as if you mean business. I certainly don't want to be mistaken for a thug, degenerate or anyone else who doesn't want to be taken seriously or respected. (Side note: Each and every time that I travel with casual wear , I am detained and searched thoroughly at airport security and customs. EVERY time.This is obvious character profiling, of course, but is definitely avoidable if my garb and external profile don't resemble that of a hellraiser.)
But where musical performances are concerned, jeans, baseball caps, sneakers and t-shirts and other extreme casual wear just doesn't cut it for me in terms of stage apparel. Not in my band, it doesn't. The exception, of course, would be some of the summer outdoor music festivals where we're often found performing in sweltering heat, or situations where we've had to rush to the bandstand directly form the airport after a day of hectic travel and near-missed flights. Sometimes there is absolutely no time that will allow for the band to "get it together" and one must perform "as is". But dressing as if you just woke up from falling asleep with your clothes on should not be an acceptable norm. I'm constantly surprised to find the number of Jazz musicians who feel that it's no big deal and argue that they're merely "dressing for comfort". I doubt very seriously that any member of any philharmonic orchestra would agree, or think for one minute that their job would be secure if they didn't appear for work dressed appropriately.
Once in or around 1983 or '84, during a break on a gig at a location that I can't immediately remember, Dizzy Gillespie, complimented me on the sharpness of my suit and relayed to me some stories about how meticulous some of the musicians had been about their "vines" (Jazzspeak for suits - hanging on your body like vines). He told me that a hip suit (and hat) were essential "the look" and that they would have never even considered performing in anything less. He concluded his story with the same phrase that I've heard said countless times when referring to the audience: "They SEE you before they HEAR you". I agree wholeheartedly with this and have to confess that I base my total enjoyment of any given performance on a multitude of factors - appearance and stage presence being two of them.
I would further contend that this slacker mode of dress has contributed to the devaluation of the music in terms of visual presentation and a steadily increasing lack of respect for an art form whose very participants sometimes don't appear to have much respect for anything other than subjecting their audiences to 10 chorus length solos and songs that last 30 minutes each - AND looking like derelicts while doing it!
In my own experience, I would have to admit that not only do I feel better about my presentation when I'm secure that everything is in place both with the music as well as with the business, but I also notice all too well how different I am treated and respected when I am dressed like a "grown-ass-man". In music, as well as in every other aspect of life, respect for oneself and the rich lineage that we've inherited deserves ample consideration and attention to every facet of the art form - not just being a "bad ass" on your instrument. So to those to whom this would apply: Clean up your act!
And for those of you who are members of Facebook, here's a link to trumpeter Sean Jones' online discussion that deals with the very same subject.
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=7762506156&topic=12383
Perhaps it's time for musicians to, along with the refinement of their craft, begin to reinvestigate the value and immediate benefits (WINK!) of being "clean" and "sharp as a tack" once again. I know, quite personally, a number of people who would support the music with a bit more enthusiasm if the musicians themselves didn't appear so aloof and disheveled. It's not so much to ask.
Thanks,
GO
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Saturday October 17, 2009 at 10:19 PM
Monday September 28, 2009 at 07:21 PM
Saturday September 12, 2009 at 05:42 PM
It has to do with the belief, that they pay more attention to the music than their personal hygiene. but i do agree with the fact that musicians should look more presentable at shows.
Greg, Got your post from our jazz dept discussion blog. It will be fodder for a great deal of discussion, especially here in t-shirt & flip flop wearing Portland. Here is my two cents.
The function of both appearance and stage presence is to support the performance. A committed performer thinks about every aspect of his or her presentation in terms of its effectiveness in increasing the level of communication with the audience. It's all about the message, and how best to reach people. I don't believe, & I don't think you would say either, that there is a single dress code to play any kind of music. I played plenty of gigs with you where you were not wearing "vines." The message that you have always presented loud and clear is that an artist should CARE about the message his attire & presentation communicate because it matters. And to ignore it is to waste a means to make a more powerful statement. What that statement ultimately is, is up to the artist to decide.
Peace
DG
Well, the only thing is that on one level, it's "damned if you do, damned if you don't." Jazz musicians dressing down can definitely be a problem. I see a lot of Tevos, pale legs and shorts in the summertime, which I think is just lazy and wack. Black men wearing huarachis isn't much better.
"Dressing up" in the jazz world however, typically amounts to wearing a suit. This may be appealing to older listeners and couples on a date night who want to feel like they're in an elegant atmosphere, with all the attendant romantic lore of jazz's yesteryear....but to a lot of younger folks, suits and ties is just another thing that helps reinforce the stereotype of jazz being an old music for old folks, or of course, the E word- "elitist". I agree that musicians shouldn't appear slovenly or like they just don't care, but I'm not sure I would advocate dressing up. Wynton and his crew kind of cornered the market on jazz "style" anyway, right?
Really, I'd be in favor of just seeing more individuality in dress on the bandstand, whether that's purely casual or more toward the formal side.
With everything that needs to be fixed in the jazz world today, a world that is crumbling from ignorance, neglect, and narcissism, the issue of etiquette seems like the most trifling by far. Conceded, you dress well. Now what have you got to write about?
The Beatles actually dressed like street punks until Brian Epstein told them to clean up and wear suits.
So just out of curiosity, do you have anything interesting planned for us, Mr. Osby?
As musicians we put years and years of study into our craft. One would assume after doing this that we give a damn about our music. Or maybe part of the problem is that people have started phoning it in!
As a musician in my late 20's I grew up listening to hip hop, pop AND jazz. By day, I'm hip hop meets punk as far as dress is concerned. Hoodies, t-shirts, holes in my jeans, crazy sneakers..facial piercings. When I'm on the bandstand I try to be the best version of myself. That for me means to look sharp and dress for the venue. You don't have to abandon edge and personality to look like YOU are the performer not the audience member. People stood in LINE to hear you! They paid! If you're not getting the gigs where people pay, maybe its your barbecue stained flannel that wreaks of b.o. or your hair that's so greasy that the drummer on the gig uses it to lube his throne. How are people going to care about your music if you don't care how its presented? GRANTED I'm definitely not suggesting that I listen to music based on how people look but you're not making a very good case for how your music sounds if you look like a f***ing slob! Also, I doubt the clubs are going to want you back and they will hire all those people you talk shit about that are willing to dress appropriately. If you're at a festival, it can be more loose. Its just knowing the situation and dressing to support the music.
This is definitely a time where people are preoccupied with the internet and phones and today's generation is more rude and detached. Musicians have become more like athletes in my opinion. They care so much about impressing other douchebag musicians to the point where they develop no individual musical brain then the hate envelops their soul and they look for someone successful to hate blog about.
Bottom line: Many people miss the point. You don't look cool just for being the slob on stage that looks like you were in a practice room all day..there are no points for that, actually you get -500 for that. IF you show up to said gig and play all those patterns you practiced wearing flannel shirt THEN you turn around and hate when people who DO give a damn about their appearance do well for themselves thats JUST PLAIN CORNY! Jazz didn't start out this corny. Presentation is key!
Help is on the way to those who don't know how to dress..holla!
As a record producer, I don't care how you dress and it doesn't affect your ability to get a record deal one bit. Not. One. Bit. I may even dig on your artful disdain for social edicts.
I can see both sides of the argument. I was once at a jazz program where Terrell Stafford was in residence for a week. It came to the day where he was going to preform with his quartet and, I think it was Pat LaBarbara who said to me something to the effect of, "Terrell is a class act, he'll be looking real sharp in a suit tonight." Sure enough, the concert came along and he looked great. When asked about it later by us students, he gave an answer about being respectful of your audience, which I totally understand and agree with. Duke Ellington always made sure his band was dressed up and looking sharp, though you have to remember, he was an African-American in a white mans world back then. Thankfully, racial tensions have been greatly reduced since then when the crazy white folk wouldn't even let the band come in through the front door.
On the other hand, today's world, especially the jazz world, has changed significantly. With the emergence of artists like Mehldau, Rosenwinkel, Redman, and Mark Turner, for example, there was almost a "youth" jazz counter culture in the 90's, which has continued to set the tone for today. The younger generation (my generation I suppose) doesn't put as much stock in the need to dress up. I just saw Dave Binney's band at the 55 Bar the other week, and they were all in t-shirts and jeans, which I'm sure didn't diminish the quality of the music at all. Then again, the 55 bar isn't Carnegie Hall.
Although, a shower is a good thing- a very good thing.
I have been a fan of jazz for the last 20 years, I enjoyed reading this blog because I do care for where jazz is heading. When I go back and Watch Duke Ellingon and Louis Armstrong, it seems totally clear why they would wear a suit; at the time, that was the only option. Today, people are more open and loose about their attire, also celebrities and public figures from the art and entertainment don't always wear a suit. But, when I go to a concert and it seems like the performer didn't think even one second about what he's going to wear, that feels disrespectful to the audience. I don't enjoy looking at this person, and since music concert is a visual experience, I would prefer to have my eyes rest on a beautiful, well-taken-care-of figure. That's my personal preference. More words than these will be too much. I'm looking forward for the next topic mr Osby has to offer us. It's great that a well known and respected artist like himself shares his most inner thoughts and concepts. and he knows what he's yapping about, he has been out there on the other side of the stage so many times, I went to a few of his concerts. Thank you! I'll be listening!
The minute someone mentions "beautiful well-taken-care-of figure," as an important part of their experience, the awful shallowness of this whole charade is exposed. Is someone going to say that it is wrong or "disrespectful" for a musician to be fat, middle-aged, and non-pretty? This is a slippery-slope argument that will prove hard to escape.
Elk, I don't think thats the argument at all. The issue it hand is for those who do live shows and dressing for the venue and the people who are paying. It has nothing to do with getting a record deal. Also I don't think many people are looking for record deals anymore because the record companies aren't really doing much for the artists anyway. You don't have to look pretty to make a record but If someone paid 50 bucks to hear you for a set I think you should not look like ass. Just my opinion. A lot of the other stuff you mentioned doesn't really pertain to this topic. I think we need a new blog to discuss some of the things you mentioned. There are plenty of master musicians who respect what they're doing enough to leave the stained t's at home. You can't really call them shallow..i mean you could but you'd be easily proven wrong.
Meilana, The quoted "beautiful well-taken-care-of figure" refers to more than clothing. While there is a commonsense aspect to what you are saying, there is also a continuum of cases, and a genuine slippery slope argument suitable for a grad seminar in metaphysics and epistemology. I'm a bit hurt that you think I don't do anything much for the artists anyway. Working inches from you, I've raised money and financed projects for many of your personal friends.
Well if I knew who the heck you are, I might feel differently but record labels in general are not looking at artists as artists, they are looking for a product that generates numbers that are the same as some other successful "product" on their roster. I speak of majors not indies for the most part. Why the anonymity? Why is there nothing on your page, no photos, bio etc? Who out of my personal friends have you financed? I didn't say YOU personally didn't do anything for the artists because I have no idea who YOU are. You have come on here and basically took a blog that was about dressing appropriately for gigs into your own vehicle to make stabs. "Conceded you dress well. Now what do you have to write about?". Do you have a personal problem with Greg Osby? I would very much like to discuss some of the things you mentioned but in a new blog topic. Working inches from me??? I'm confused.
Still waiting for the big reveal.....(hums jeopardy theme song)
I wouldn't hold my breath waiting on a reply from someone who slams etiquette. It's really the same as saying 'respect is really not that important...'
I'm someone who gave the best years of my life and everything I owned to the musicians, without hope of reasonable returns. I don't disrespect etiquette, but question who defines it and for what ends. Etiquette has some uncontroversial elements, and some very controversial elements. Uncontroversial is take a shower. Controversial is "beautiful well-taken-care-of figure" and excessive conformity. Osby's post does not fall entirely in the take-a-shower realm, and is open to some critical analysis. I don't disrespect him, but am questioning the ideas he wrote about.
One of the beautiful things about art is that from time to time someone can break all the conventions (and I don't mean the take-a-shower kind) and make history. I don't want to stuff that urge back into the box.
Thank you for qualifying your remarks as being about major labels. I agree.
Back up...You said you were a record producer who has worked inches from me and funded projects of my personal friends. I'd like to know who you are.
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