Jazz and Socialization

[New_Alex]

In today's hectic pace of living, nobody can ignore the standards that society imposes. Almost everybody is a football fun, pop music lover, and almost everybody like to kills time in from of a television or a cinema to watch stupid movies etc.

For me, personally, I find it difficult to believe that I am left alone in this real world because of my personal preferences, including the music preference which is Jazz. You are a sociable person when you discuss about football, cinema, sexy women/men, actors, pop stars, rock stars etc and you are a complete indiot and depressed when you discuss about Jazz music, piano skills, real love, classic music etc. At least this is what the consensus beleive and don't try to prove that I am an indiot, because for sure I am not.

Friendship has become really difficult for those who are dedicated in Jazz music. They are drop outs. They are minority, and many times treated narrow minded people. I lost one relationship beause it didn't started so well. She was considering me as a narrow minded person because I preffered Jazz to Pop music. THis sucks and it makes me a second rated Citizen. Of course its nothing that can change from one day to the other, but it really sucks.

That is why I have just registered to these forums. Because this is the only way to meet the real people. My Jazz mates. My jazz freaks. Because I love you much more than those trolls who think that because they are a majority they are the cool.

To bring this post to an end, I say that the only way to get away from that Social stigma is that we, Jazzists, need to build places so we come and socialize, we talk about our Jazz, our true stories, and meet our differences within the Jazz framework.

For now,
Love, and Jazz

Alex
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[Pete C]

Welcome Alex. I think things are better in New York than Cyprus.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

I've always found that a key to making friends is talking to others about what interests THEM rather than me.

[Tom Storer]

On the other hand it's a drag if you can't find anyone who shares your own interests.

So welcome aboard, Alex! But be aware that here in this jazz-freak paradise of kindred souls, we fight a lot! ;-)

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Originally posted by Tom Storer
On the other hand it's a drag if you can't find anyone who shares your own interests.

Yeah, but I'm primarily interested in the people, and most of them have lives as well as interests. And I can always relate to that.

I'm not dismissing the need to find folks with similar cultural interests. That's a genuine hunger in each of us. I just don't think that the lack of close, natural friends is a reason, or an excuse, to become isolated.

[graypencil]

Welcome Alex:

As has been mentioned earlier, we are sometimes a contentious
group ..but that's what happen when you get a lot of people
who love all kinds, shapes, styles and sizes of the multi-tendreled
animal we've chosen to lump into the rubric of "Jazz"

I imagine from where you're located, your opportunities to
hear live performances are limited ..is this so?

[Tom Storer]

Originally posted by Squaredancecalling Steve
Yeah, but I'm primarily interested in the people, and most of them have lives as well as interests. And I can always relate to that.

There you go talking about YOU again! ;-)

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Tom: one has to liven up the conversation somehow.


New_Alex: I don't know about Cypriot jazz. But if you head east, past Crete, past Sicily... a few years ago Walter Horn gave me a tape of a fabulous avant-garde jazz artist from Sardinia named Paolo Angeli. He plays a "prepared Sardinian Guitar" which, if I remember correctly, Walter's review said sounded like "a cross between a guitar synth and a helicopter." Great stuff, fusion of traditional Sardinian and Martian music.


One of my challenge dancers is from yet another Mediterranean island -- Gozo, the northern island of Malta. His wife is from Ecuador, and when they speak to each other they use a kind of compromise accent that sounds charming but is almost unintelligible to anyone else.

[Alastair]

Sicily is west of Cyprus, is it not?

[mke]

Originally posted by Alastair
Sicily is west of Cyprus, is it not?

And so is Sardinia.

[Alastair]

Originally posted by mke
And so is Sardinia.

That's what I meant

[Gary Sisco]

You'll find enough freaks here, New Alex.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Originally posted by Alastair
That's what I meant

Me, too. All us freaks have trouble with that east-west stuff.

[Alastair]

Krakatoa, East of Java.

You're in good company.

[SinginSumo]

New Alex - Welcome! It is my hope that you will be able to form lasting relationships with many wonderful people who post here.

Alastair - Love your avatar. You seem to have a wonderful and rare appreciation for talent as well as feminity.

[Alastair]

Why thank you, Mr Sumo. I think.

I can't believe I sat through all two and a half hours of "Paint Your Wagon" last Sunday just to check out Ms Seberg's performance. If I'd been born thirty years earlier, etc....

[SinginSumo]

Originally posted by Alastair
Why thank you, Mr Sumo. I think.

No need to "think"; my comment to you was direct and sincere.

[Sand]

Originally posted by Alastair
Sicily is west of Cyprus, is it not?

Incidentially, I am reading a book about la méditerranée right now. Feel like I'm qualified to follow this thread.
Fernand Braudel. Recommended.

[Alastair]

Originally posted by SinginSumo
No need to "think"; my comment to you was direct and sincere.

Apologies.

It was my new years' resolution to accept compliments at face value: looks like I blew it.

[rebetiko blues]

welcome alex
as you see i'm a jazz brother from greece,so we have more things in common.
it's true that pretty often you get the negative reaction from people when you refer to jazz,
they think that only mainstream counts and they hear every stupid thing that becomes fashionable.
minorities have a hard in many cases in life,that's true.
but very often i find it more interesting to exchange ideas with people that have the exact opposite opinion from me.
so don't enclose all us jazz fans in a ghetto away from other people.
i'm not a regular poster here ,but i try my best to participate as much as possible.
i'll be glad to see you around the board
na'se kala

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Ah, the land of Sakis Papadimitriou, Floris Floridis, and Pandelis Karayorgis!
Welcome.