After growing up on mostly rock and pop, I find these days that I alternate between classic jazz and…country.
Rock and pop songs I’ve had memorized since my youth still evoke fun—and, sometimes, sad—memories. I saw my two favorite bands, Rush and U2, in concert this year. But I also saw Taylor Swift with my daughter!
I’m not quite the same person that I was in the 1980s when I fell in love with music; and so it makes sense that I am listening to different genres, discovering alternative authors and connecting deeply with newer friends during life’s contemporary rhythms. The same holds true for my approach to my writing, my coaching and facilitation work, and my spirituality.
You might wonder how these two genres can be held together in the musical psyche of one individual. You might hate one and love the other, appreciate them both or despise them both.
For me, jazz and country each connect to specific moods. Jazz provides a sense of connectedness to all people, in keeping with this discipline’s synergy of notes and collaboration of contributions. It also has an intriguing history that has intersected with significant social and political milestones. When I hear jazz, I get mellow and all feels right with the world. I love to read, write or engage in meaningful conversation with jazz in the background.
Country, which has grown on me since moving to Tennessee, appeals the most when I just want to blow off steam and not take myself or life too seriously. Some country songs, however, are very touching and stroke the restless romantic within me. I certainly don’t like every country song, but I’ve come to accept that country music is going to be what it wants to be—and I don’t judge it nearly as much as earlier in life. When I’m alone in my car I tend to crank it up.
Above and beyond genre, good music is simply good music. I have strong appreciation for any artist in any discipline who is talented and dedicated to his or her craft. I might not always “get” their vantage point or catch their unique vibe; but as I age, I become more tolerant of their passion to express themselves in keeping with how they see the world.
A final thought: there are plenty of country music stations on the radio, but not nearly enough jazz towers. This is not a problem when I have Internet or Wi-Fi access, but during road trips in isolated regions I would sure love to stumble across some Parker or Mingus.
