THE NEW JAZZ

Monday, May 12, 2008 | 12:30 PM

It's said that the only really true American art form is jazz music. It began in the U.S.A. with the assimilation of various musical idioms that came before such as African tribal and European classical. I'm here to add another to that list of one: Rock n Roll. That's right, that horrible racket we've all been listening to for the
last 60 years. It's true, just like it's originators, rock n roll is old and established, it's legit.

Elvis, Little Richard, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen etc.They all are
great artists.

I wonder what it was like at the end of the jazz age when this young upstart came along? Most said it
would never last, yet today we have 60 year old rock stars playing to an audience of all ages. Rock n Roll
fanatics are everywhere.

Let's not forget that like jazz, rock n roll is not today's pop, as in popular, music. That would be the
domain of the latest Disney discovery or some American Idol winner. That ain't Rock n Roll!

As we move into the future I often wonder who will be the next generation of older statesmen of ROCKnROLL. Where are the next great artists? Will it survive? What will we be listening to in the next 60
years? I have a feeling it will be the same ones we're listening to now.

Beatles for ever! Dylan endures! Infinite Little Richard?

Long Live Rock!
Clem

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