I get it. You want to talk to me at a gig and. . .tell me how great I sound. . .that my music has changed your life. . . that you want to leave all your money to me in your Will and Testament (ahem—my details are below).
But you don’t know how to start the conversation. Ah yes, talking to a musician can be intimidating, and I understand your hesitation (sometimes I’m even afraid to talk to myself). Furthermore, if you’ve ever heard a Jazz Musician speak, you’ve probably noticed a host of unusual phrases and terms that almost earn it the title of another language.
Navigating the lingo can be an overwhelming task, so once again, I, your humble servant, have undertaken the self-appointed duty of bridging that gap between audience and musician, with the Professor’s Language Guide for talking to a jazz musician.
1. Complimenting a musician. We like compliments. Beneath our cool exterior, we’re actually just insecure artists looking for validation (don't tell the other guys I told you). A good way to break the ice is with a compliment. That will get the conversational juices flowing.
In the “real world,” compliments normally include positive references. Not so in jazz. Don’t tell us “that was beautiful music.” C’mon. This is not an Enya concert. In jazz, negative equals positive.
Here’s a good example: “That was a bad solo” means “that was a
