Punk & Jazz

• "Growing up the way we did, (Minutemen lead singer/guitarist) D. Boon and I never heard jazz until we heard punk, and then we thought it was the same thing, because the jazz we were hearing really wasn't Stan Getz, it was the fuckin' John Coltrane, Albert Ayler, Eric Dolphy, Ornette Coleman, it was wild and it made us crazy! We thought it was the same thing, just in an earlier time! For us, not being sophisticated and not knowing the chronologies and coming from Alice Cooper and Blue Oyster Cult, we really didn't understand this. The passion and all of that, we thought it was the same! We didn't see the color lines or whatever in the music, to us it was the same vibe!" - Mike Watt Similarities: Protest: Jazz music was the sound of protest long before rock 'n' roll took over the airwaves, and today's jazz artists are carrying on the tradition. Since its beginning jazz has produced radical thinkers and non conformists. Trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie advocated progressive politics, as did Billy Holiday. These days some jazz artists continue that progressive tradition. Read the lyrics of protest to "Compared to what?" Freedom: Look at the improvisations of Sonny Rollins, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk. Anything goes. If you don't know, you make it up as you go along. Independent record labels: Blue Note Records was probably the most well known of the Indie jazz labels. The took on all of the "heavyweights" at one time and they are responsible for propelling most of their careers to major labels. COMPARED TO WHAT? Written By Eugene Mcdanials Another night a night of love A hangin' only push an shove Possession is the motivation That is hangin' up, the Goddamn nation Looks like we always end up in a rut! Everybody now, tryin' to make it real compared to what! C'mon baby! Slaughter house is a-killin' hogs Twisted children are killin' frogs Poor dumb red-necks rollin' logs Tired old lady, kissin' dogs I hate the human love of that stinking mutt! I can't use it! Tryin' to make it real, compared to what! Come on baby, now (WOW!) The President, he's got his war Folks don't know just what it's for Nobody gives us a rhyme or reason Have one doubt, they call it treason With chicken feathers all with out one nut Goddamn it! Tryin' to make it real compared to what! Sock it to me! (Woo) Church on Sunday, sleep and nod Tryin' to duck, the wrath of God Preacher's fillin' us with pride They all tryin' a-teach us What they think is right They really got to be some kind of nut! I can't use it! Tryin' to make it real compared to what! Oh baby! A-where's that bee, And-a where's that a-honey? A-where's my God, And a-where's my money? Unreal value is a crass distortion Unwed mother's need abortion Kinda brings to mind old young King Tut! He did it now! Tryin' to make it real compared to what! Tryin' to make it real compared to what!