Hey everyone! Just wanted to make a statement on the fact that people stereotype that Jazz is only for old people. Well I am 15 and have liked Jazz since 13. All my friends say I am stupid and should be listening to Rap or Punk or Rock! And that kind of pisses me off because it seems like they listen to trendy music. Heck I love the Ripps and David Benoit. To hell with the people who think that Jazz is for old people.

Trendy music I like to but Jazz is my all time favorite because the quality of sound and the collision of instruments dancing in a perfect melody of satisfaction!

But My point I am trying to get to is that why the heck does everyone stereotype jazz for 'old people'. Heck I bet everyone likes Jazz and they just dont know it or at least just some kind of music with just instruments . I bet its a trendy thing and they think if they listen to jazz then they wont be cool. Ha I laugh at that! Because music is not a matter of popularity but for personal satisfaction.

Anyone have a say on this topic?

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Hey Artanis,
Good for you. You'll spend the rest of your life resisting being stereotyped by your peers. You're learning early to stand for yourself! Congratulations. (And don't think you need to swear to prove it. You make your point just fine without it!)

I'm currently 36, but I started listening to jazz when I was in my teens. In fact, the first concert I ever went to was Maynard Ferguson. If you've never heard of him check him out. He's a trumpet player who has a big band type band. He really kicks!! I was sitting in the second row - I think my ears are still ringing!
Soon after hearing Maynard I got interested in Spyro Gyra and, through the years, other jazz bands. I also built a stereo system that was, and still is, the envy of all my friends! No matter what kind of music I have on!
The point is that I started young, wasn't swayed by the influence of friends, and still am very much a jazz fan. (Even though I now qualify for the "old people" category! :-) )

Keep standing for what you like, Artanis. You've made a great musical choice!

Steve

Artanis,
I am 51 years old, but I have two young children who would rather listen to jazz than anything else. They are 7 and 6. Of course, The Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, and groups idolized by their peers have had an impact on their musical tastes, they would still rather listen to The Ripps, Bamboo Forest, Jeff Kashiwa or Spyro Gyra when they're in their own environment at home or in the car. Steve was right, listen to what YOU like. Individualism is not dead. Expanding your musical horizons is definetely not "uncool". Hang in there for what makes YOU happy.
Later,
Dennis

I believe that many do not get exposed to jazz when they are young and more often than not normally adopt the music of their peers. We have to remember that the jazz piece of the music "pie" is very small and its "discovery" by anyone more often comes in time.

Artanis . . . You are apparently an exception and it's a refreshing thing to see. I was very fortunate to have been raised in a home where my father was a jazz guitarist and band leader. Jam sessions in our home were very common. But it wasn't until I heard "Painted Rhythm" by the Stan Kenton orchestra when I was 12 years old that I became absolutely hooked on jazz music. From Kenton I moved onto Duke ellington, Woody Herman, Miles Davis and many others who are considered legends these days.

So keep up your personal exposure to good jazz music and since "exposure" is so important, you will be able to help other young people to appreciate this music.

I think it's great to see that some young people are interested in jazz, and that they should listen to all types of music to find out what they like.

My father, who is now in his 70's, had a great influence on me as a teenager by exposing me to jazz and big band greats like Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman. Of course, I wasn't into it at first, but I really started to like the music. Now as an adult, I am a jazz fanatic, but I still listen to rock, R&B, and other types of music.

So Artanis, stick in there, listen to what you want to, and ignore the criticism of your peers. I survived high school and even college roommates who didn't understand jazz, and so will you.

Well ARTANIS, you must be a great Sinatra fan to have adopted his name spelled backwards. You are probably aware that the record company Artanis is releasing a new record on March 2nd...it is a 1962 nightclub performance ...The Rat Pack...I already wrote you a message but it was rejected because I forgot my password....Another way in which the young people of today are learning about the original Jazz artists are from Movie Soundtracks...it is fun to hear little kids singing the songs from recent movies...Parent Trap...One Fine Day....Sleepless in Seattle...You've Got Mail...and so forth. Keep enjoying your Jazz, Artanis.....

Alright, after looking at all the topics of this BB, I found this one, it's perfect for me. I agree, all my friend call me dumb and telling me I should be listening to rap and punk music, well that's just wrong. I think that everyone should have there own opinion on music and I think that Rap and Punk Rock absolutely SUCK. If you can understand it, try to pick out every other word of a rap song and you'll find either
f-you
*ss
d*mn
and words like that or other "inapropriate" words.
I've been listening to Jazz since I was seven and I WILL NEVER LISTEN TO RAP AND LIKE IT

ah ha!
yes i am 20 now.
but ive totally grown up listening to jazz.
i think the first major thing i remember of really loving an album was the jazziz cd sampler from like 1988 or something.
i played it to death.
(twas where i first heard the ripps aswell!)
but, yeah, i know what you say about people diss you for this taste.
i know of but one person that likes jazz, she plays saxophone and is going to study at some top music college...
but other than her... no one likes jazz. but...
i have to say at the same time, im a big fan of rock... and metal...all that rob zombie, marylin manson, system of a down.
i love deftones! hehe, but what can i say?
jsut listen to what ya enjoy, this past week ive gone mad over lee ritnours festival album, track 2(latin lovers) on that just blows me away!
ace.

It is always refreshing to see young people posting here to state their love for jazz. (oh by the way Steve 36 does not yet get you into the "old folks" club. At 53 I still consider you a youngster!) At the age of our poster I was growing up on the Beatles and MoTown. But for every Beatles tune I would play in the house dear old dad would slip in a Sinatra or Nat King Cole. At the time it drove me nuts but I am very thankful for that exposer. My own boys both in their mid 20's are more into heavy metal but rather enjoy the Rippingtons and Spyro Gyra as well.

The grandkids of course are being exposed to heavy doses of jazz on a daily basis. Just doing my part to pass it on to the next generation.

I posted this a long time ago and I still love Jazz. In fact after posting here David Benoit emailed me and we found out that we live in the same city and went to the same High School. Jazz is a great way to relax and to enjoy a hi-fi stereo. I use jazz to test new speakers and so forth because jazz is so well recorded with sound positioning. You know you have good speakers if it sounds like each instrument is at its own position and not all just in the left or right side. Glad to see that people recognized this post. Seems to have a lot of controversy because many young kids are not exposed to jazz. I was not exposed to it until I learned about HI-FI and Home Theatre. Jazz and HI-FI is now my hobby. If you guys want some nice jazz speakers and have some good money you want to spend... www.bwspeakers.com bye all glad to see everyone still enjoy's jazz =).