Dive into the humorous exploration of jazz snobbery, dissecting seven unique types that reveal how elitism seeps into music appreciation. Discover the quirks of record collector snobs and their vinyl obsessions. The conversation takes a turn to New York City's vibrant music scene, contrasting past legends with today's evolving talents. Generational snobbery gets a spotlight, as nostalgia clashes with modern sound. Through lively debates and witty anecdotes, insights unfold on the true nature of musical snobbery in the jazz world.
The podcast explores the concept of snobbery in jazz by categorizing individuals into seven distinct types, highlighting that such attitudes can stem from genuine appreciation for the genre.
It discusses the impact of modern social media figures, like YouTube content creators, on jazz education, blending contemporary discourse with traditional musical appreciation.
Deep dives
The Concept of Jazz Snobbery
The discussion revolves around the various types of jazz snobs prevalent in the music scene, introduced through a concept called the 'snubometer.' This idea categorizes individuals based on their levels of snobbery towards jazz, emphasizing that being a 'snob' doesn't inherently carry a negative connotation; it can reflect a person’s deep appreciation and understanding of the genre. The hosts highlight different motivations behind snobbery, discussing how individuals may identify with multiple categories depending on their experiences and environments. Importantly, they note that snobbery often stems from affection for jazz, acknowledging that the social dynamics among musicians fuel these classifications.
Types of Jazz Snobs
The episode outlines a countdown of seven distinct types of jazz snobs, starting with the intellectual jazz snob, characterized by deep analytical commentary on jazz music. These intellectuals often engage in thoughtful discussions about the genre while critiquing its components, with notable figures such as Ethan Iverson and Jason Moran identified as exemplars. The hosts amusingly reference the attire of certain jazz aficionados, such as those who wear berets, to further illustrate their points about this particular snob. This snob type, while elitist in some senses, is acknowledged for contributing valuable insights into jazz appreciation.
Social Media and YouTube Snobs
Moving forward, the dialogue transitions to a modern iteration of snobbery known as the YouTube social media snob, which includes popular content creators who dissect jazz performances and theory online. This type represents a blending of social media influence with jazz education, where figures like Rick Beato and Adam Neely share their expertise while simultaneously embodying a form of snobbery regarding music consumption. The hosts discuss the significance of knowing and engaging with contemporary discussions and how this type of snob may hold more informal yet equally intense discourse around jazz. They also touch upon the notion of how being a snob in this space often correlates with a strong online persona and community engagement.
Generational and Institutional Snobbery
The conversation delves deeper into generational snobs, who often dismiss contemporary music as inferior compared to their formative years, shining a light on a universal theme among musicians across ages. These individuals may express disdain for newer genres or artists that diverge from their musical roots, reminding listeners of the cyclical nature of musical innovation and nostalgia. Additionally, the institutional or big band snob is examined, which refers to those who favor academic or traditional jazz environments, like music conservatories or prominent bands. The hosts argue that while such snobbery may perpetuate elitism in jazz, it also enriches the genre’s complexity and evolution by nurturing deep-seated traditions.
We all know there are different degrees to being a snob but Adam and Peter thought its about time we nail them down! Time to sniff out all the snobs and find out what exactly makes them tick.
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