That's the thing: There are so many art songs in jazz. It's a much more rich experience for the singer than people think.
Interpretation
Jazz incorporates a variety of artistic songs that enhance the singer's experience significantly.
In this quote, Kurt Elling emphasizes the depth and richness of jazz music, particularly highlighting the complex and artistic songs that are often overlooked. He points out that for singers, performing these art songs offers a profoundly enriching experience that goes beyond mere performance, showcasing the unique emotional and creative intricacies found within jazz.
In practice
In a discussion about the depth of musical genres, one might quote Elling to highlight the richness of jazz.
It helps me to learn things in different languages, even if it's just phonetically, and to make myself vulnerable to other audiences by trying to reflect back to them the genius of their own cultures, and to do that, oftentimes, in new jazz settings, new arrangements. It's a way to show respect.
I try to stick with things that I can sing with honesty.
One doesn't have to scat to be a jazz singer.
I'm one of the culprits who keeps turning stuff around, shaking up original tunes and trying to stand the canon on its ear. But sometimes, you just need to sing the song.
I want the ballet world to be given the respect that it deserves and to be seen by more people - for so many to experience the beauty that I've received from the ballet world.
I wanted to write about what we were doing at the French Laundry, the recipes and the stories.
When you write a song, a song has longevity
Music: what so many sentences aspire to be.
Seeing yourself in print is such an amazing concept: you can get so much attention without having to actually show up somewhere... You don't have to dress up, for instance, and you can't hear them boo you right away.
Acting became more than a profession to me. It became a sort of religion.
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