It's Happening!

One of my favorite memes is Ron Paul saying "It's happening!" The variant, "This is happening," is my favorite phrase to feel when I'm in an interesting or unique situation. Yes, this is happening. It's always happening. What happens?

Jazz Happens!

My new favorite spot in Bangkok is a cozy little jazz bar reminiscent of North Gate in Chiang Mai. Similarly, the bar owner shreds, keys instead of sax, and he's super friendly and welcoming. The musicians are great and it's a very chill, laid-back atmosphere with players jumping in and out for fun. It's more of a jamming spot than anything else, even more than North Gate. Pure love for this place!

Now, on my third stay at Kinnon, I've visited Jazz Happens three times, in spite of the great distance I must traverse. Indeed, 100 baht each way is well worth it. They encourage me to bring my horn and jam. And they don't mind that I suck, in terms of fundamentals including intonation, because I make up for it in enthusiasm and ear-playing. This joint is the most fun I've had in this city. It's much more fun than Saxophone Pub and Brown Sugar, because I love the informal atmosphere.

Jazz should be people's music. Sure, it takes a base level of skill to participate as a musician. Yes, it takes knowledge and experience to delve deep into appreciating the repertoire as a listener. Both those aside, this music belongs in bars and clubs at every price level. It's not for rich elites! Especially considering the history of this music, how many of its great pioneers come from working class families including disenfranchised African-Americans. The same is true for later styles of music which popular culture currently favor: hip hop, R&B, rock. These styles, lacking the sheer freedom and dynamism of jazz, still have scores of live acts performing covers of popular songs. To some extent, I wonder what is even the point of playing modern music as written? Music that changes based on time, place, and personality is alive. Jazz is unique in that every performance is different. Elitism serves no one, and jazz should not be limited to expensive bars and clubs. It does not require performers in suits. Every rehearsal is a performance in itself.

Don't get me wrong. There's nothing bad about jazz played by people wearing nice clothes, playing in a classy venue. These high-class establishments ostensibly serve the musicians better, with higher pay and notoriety. But in America, this notoriety doesn't matter much. The quintessential American music is not as popular as it used to be. Nor is it as popular as it should be.

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So yeah. Jazz Happens! is a small, cozy, intimate joint with fun people and great music. After Kinnon Hostel, this bar is my second home in Bangkok.

So far on my travel, I've found that my two driving passions are music and learning. At this moment, I'm considering taking a teacher training course in Thailand so I can spread these everywhere I go. First, I have to get over the fact that my family will never approve...