We tend to label all music of a somewhat improvisational nature as “Jazz”...there are offshoots, of course, Free Jazz, Avant Garde, Bop, Post-Bop, Fusion, etc.
re: “We tend to label all music of a somewhat improvisational nature as “Jazz”...there are offshoots, of course, Free Jazz, Avant Garde, Bop, Post-Bop, Fusion, etc.”
Exactly right! There is room for all kinds of jazz forms - it doesn’t mean we will like all of them. I don’t like all styles of rhythm and blues guitarists, I don’t like all styles of rock, - everyone has their likes and dislikes.
I’m not saying that there aren’t any standards, but sometimes I get sick of the ones who want to define what “they” like as being the “true jazz” or “true R & B” or whatever. Some of them are just plain musical snobs.