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Related, from another article I've read recently:

> Jazz clubs didn’t have “no talking” rules back when jazz was a black popular music. (Charles Mingus and Nina Simone complained bitterly and often about people talking during their sets.) The sacralization/classicalization of jazz only dates back to the 1980s, when, for better or for worse, it became an academic music. On the one hand, it’s nice to go to a jazz concert and be able to hear everything. On the other hand, the music is not exactly the dynamic creative force it was back when it was being played while people smoked, drank and danced.

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I'd be curious to see that article and what "clubs" the author is going to. I've been to plenty of clubs in multiple cities where it's still exactly like that. You talk, eat, and drink while the music plays in the background.

The only "no talking" Jazz events I've been to are true concerts with generally hefty ticket prices.

I would argue that jazz is largely viewed as background music now. People go to a jazz club to...talk. If they wanted to listen to the music they'd go to a rock concert.

Edit: Another thought, maybe a large segment of modern jazz is uninspired renditions of the old greats, and maybe that's why people don't give it much credence? I don't go to a lot of jazz clubs, so I can't really say. Perhaps more people would listen to modern jazz if it was so groundbreaking it knocked them off their feet...unfortunately that honor seems to go to rock, hip-hop, electronica, and such these days.

This. Every jazz club I've been to (save for the most prestigious like Blue Note) are lively events full of socializing.

It's a small quote from this [0] article.

[0] http://www.ethanhein.com/wp/2018/white-people-with-acoustic-...

Jazz has always bee like that back in the 50's there are incidences of actual fights at trad Jazz gigs, over arcane arguments over which sort of Bass should be used - this is Metal Vs String not a Double Bass vs an Electric Bass (which was beyond the pale)

Luckily, in the 1990s I could happily play electric bass (upright or guitar) in jazz gigs without receiving complaints. A shame it took so long to catch on - I think that the Fender Jazz was a great invention, and actually works well for jazz.

Sounds like my impression from Jazz concerts I have been to. They often felt sterile and emotionless to me. I like it when musicians feed off their audience's emotions and don't just do their thing.

It’s coming back in London. Check out artists associated with Total Refreshment Centre.

Come to the Midwest. I started learning jazz in the late 70s, and have been performing in public for about 25 years. About half of the players I work with have music degrees, the rest are dedicated amateurs like myself.

The multiple comments I'm reading here, about jazz being rigid, traditionalist, and stuffy, are foreign to me. Even many of the lower profile performances of classical and chamber music are pretty laid back.

It could be that the atmosphere of jazz performances reflects the local culture, rather than being driven by jazz itself.

Keith Jarrett is pretty famous for throwing tantrums over audience noises.

That's his classical roots showing.

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