Stefon Harris: There are no mistakes on the bandstand

[hyper080]

TURN OFF THE FUCKING ECHO

[TonyGT37]

Jazz is a metaphor for our universe, our life. It is all random chaos, yet beautiful at the same time...like this comment...lol O-o jk idk

[SILOETTE100page]

Jamire Williams is a monster

[LadyJennivieve]

I didn't know vibraphones were a jazz instrument. It's a pity we cannot hear the bass.

[SILOETTE100page]

@LadyJennivieve check out Steve Nelson (Dave Holland Quintet) and also Milt Jackson (The Modern Jazz Quarter), Gary Burton too. There are many you'll like them

w.e you do check out Dave Holland Quintet - Lucky Seven . It's so good i call in sick for work hahaha.

[Zralf]

ok, i gotta say i didin't look at jazz like this before, makes sense and the idea sounds well, beautyfull.

[JamesCornelisonMusic]

love the way he uses the word palet

[Tommyfroboy]

terrible mix

[anitahobart]

freaks :)

[vroomik]

i found this quote and i think it's fits nicely here: The way to discover the undiscovered in performing terms is to immediately reject all situations as you identify them (the cloud of unknowing) - which is to give music a future - (Jamie Muir)

[mdschneider1]

@bobness1957 I don't think he meant that defining time is bullying. In the first example he is really forcefully pushing his ideas as a soloist and not listening. In the example after that, he still sets a steady tempo, but is listening to the other players.

[DeadWhiteButterflies]

I play in bands a lot and I hate myself whenever I make a mistake. Even hitting a bum note annoys me to no end, yet really all that frustration with myself is probably unnecessary. I just care about getting it right so much, but this shows me that mistakes are only mistakes if you perceive them to be. I'll try to take that on board from now on when I'm playing next.

[arnoldfaber]

If you touch a hot stove, you react; if you hear an amusing story, you react; music is a language that you speak and perceive as well. The only difference is that you have options other than just your mouth (i.e. instruments). That is, you have other "means" by which you can express whatever it is you want to say. Also like language, you have to learn the framework that has been established up to this moment, so you can become part of the evolving process. This is about communication of ideas.

[husnainanwaar1992]

if every one helps the other fellow human in his work every one will make some thing beautiful

[worldbridger9]

excuse me, but they deserve a f@cking standing ovation!

That my friends is the essence of human harmony elucidated quite eloquently!

[akazombie]

Too much echo on that xylo no? Ah well Good talk!

[jazzmasta92]

@akazombie its not a xlyo. Its a vibraphone

[akazombie]

@jazzmasta92 So is that the normal echo on it? :/ It sounds like twice as much as necessary. :/

[treegraph]

There's always money in the banana stand.

[roccckkerrr]

unsure how this was a tedtalk, but the front man was tearing up that glock (or whatever it is)

[jazzmasta92]

@roccckkerrr its a vibraphone

[roccckkerrr]

@jazzmasta92 cheers

[Mrmoc7]

This is the first art I've ever understood. Must be the presenter.

[treegraph]

@Mrmoc7 This is the first art you ever understood? This sounds like you've never enjoyed a picture. Eighter that, or I don't understand art myself.

[Mrmoc7]

@treegraph

Correction: 3rd art I've ever understood.

[PalaeoTheFox]

I usually love jazz, but I've got to say that I hated this.

[greob]

@PalaeoTheFox Same here. Jazz lover here, this TED "performance" was really crappy.

[Mrmoc7]

@PalaeoTheFox

Perhaps you don't understand jazz...

[snacktical]

bass needs to be louder!

[agpshadow]

This Ted seems a little out of place. Especially the part where he says he's talking to some financial crowd? What happened TED?

[sabawernessfull]

my speakers can only go this loud....its pretty frustrating

[danielbahiabass]

Esse som é o som prair dormir. Que coisa linda meu Deus!!!

[Aaaronicus]

I do love the vibraphone



[Jochms]

this is how must musicians, including myself make music.

[Brust90]

@Jochms good for you nobody cares

[roxieview]

An excellent example of successful collaborative behavior, in a media that carries us all along with the experience. "Being here in the moment, accepting one and other and allowing creativity to flow." Well said Mr Harris, thank you.

[arielwatsontv]

He says, "I have no idea what we're going to play..." and then slowly but surely curbs into the predictable jazz combo groove we're expecting, which does sound great but too tamed, where's the wild edge of the unknown? its like saying "I've got this UFO but lets just explore New York."

[TheB0P]

@arielwatsontv You can't just make up a language on the spot and expect to have any kind of conversation with anyone else... you can say something in different languages... and if the other people also speak one of those languages... than they may choose to start conversing in that language... This group of musicians is most fluent in their communication using this language that is an outgrowth of jazz history... so that is the language they choose to speak in. Just one way of looking at it.

[TheB0P]

@arielwatsontv Make up a language, and use it in a comment... and see how many people respond to you in kind. Or leave a comment in Olde English... and I bet there will be more people who would be willing to play along with you. Flugerjamba herjerma lorrk gradzci frumtesda shorx? :)

[browngom]

what the hell am i hearing at 12:21?

[browngom]

this is giving me a headache. damn jazz

[Yaarrr]

I play the piano, which is very special for me.... but playing along with other musicians like this is unreal. It's indescribable.

[skyblazer7]

Brilliant and applicable in many circles....I like his description of micromanagement as 'bullying'.

[cnmaster01]

My god, a TED performance with more likes than dislikes! Will wonders ever cease?

[CuppaTea101]

I used to love jazz, then I took an arrow in the knee.

[onebodymind]

process is all...



[deckard247]

This TED talk smashed me in the face because, at the age of 40, I finally understand Jazz.

[theseanze]

Excellent jazz 101. Of course, the true brilliance of this (intended or not) is that the essence of what's being communicated here applies equally to a functional and creatively productive conference. The compulsion to have one defining piece played by all in attendance is exactly what's wrong with our political climate and its bureaucracy. LISTEN TO EACHOTHER

[greob]

That is not jazz...

[JimmyJamMineCraft]

@greob Then what is Jazz?

[jonjonz91]

audience: 'DAFUQ?'

[paweloyama]

Possibly the worst kind of audience for this kind of spontaneous, creative performance. I feel sorry for Redman. Don't know why he was forced to play in front of them, but the complete lack of response must have been far from pleasant.

[raynamiller]

Love this, one of my favourite TED talks this month.

[WestNinja]

Jazz-gasm

[zabacinjsh]

this was awesome!! :D

[monkeyrecordsnz]

Makes me want to dig out my old Roy Ayers records

[WerewolfSlayer91]

You see the irony. Black menn doing white music. White people do back music ^^.

it was bound to happend.

Just kidding

Good jaz muscians!

[gangliums]

@WerewolfSlayer91 how in the hell is jazz "white music".

[zabacinjsh]

@gangliums how can it even be anyone's music :D it's just music, beautiful music

[ranjanchadha]

@gangliums forgive them for they know not what they talk about!!! You know what opinions are like??!! Every body has ONE!!

[energysage]

These guys are awesome. Also, I was reminded that Animals as Leaders has a new album out...

[VarietyShop]

So tasty!

[flylikeblackjack]

Amazing. This is what jazz is about, expanding the artistic value of creativity.

[countdown226]

i suspect he hates jamey aebersolds

[Snapshot3]

holy shit these guys are good

[awemedinade]

outstanding!

[defect530]

Can't stand jazz but they were very good musicians.

[NickRobo1994]

Reasons why improv is the purest art.

[dewfish]

yeah, that was cool.

[bobness1957]

not so sure if i agree with all of homies suppositions. defined form and substance do not by any means negate nor nullify a spontaneous improvisational experience. to expand upon his own analogy, why in the world would having a frame and a canvas limit your use of a vibrant( or matte..) palette? that occasional dab of mauve neither adds nor detracts any MORE or any LESS from a background (or a backdrop), just because you predefine/presuppose a shape within which a creative process must interact!

[MusicForYourFunk]

@bobness1957

i see what your saying... however...

i see what he was saying as more in the lines of... a coloring book.

yes, there are lines (and we all know to stay inbetween them) and pictures of things we recognize (which we all know the typical colors of... not many purple cats around).

but to a child, when creating as his/her most internaly honest, doesnt care about lines. and if i want a purple cat, then thats what its gonna be.

[bobness1957]

@MusicForYourFunk . again, i am most definitely NOT talkin about the choice of color, flavor, texture or shade! @ 11:01 he goes off on a tangent and maintains that defining times and directions is a kind of "Bullying" (?????), That statement is , if you'll pardon my french, Le Boule-Sheet.

Don't get me wrong: I think this guy is a pretty good musician, and i totally agree with his take on the importance of using patience and active listening to enhance, broaden and intensify.

[MusicForYourFunk]

@bobness1957

yeah i agree that he does get a bit off track near the end...

all i was saying was the likeness to a child coloring makes a bit more sense (for his talk) than a grown painter on canvas.

obviously, if he feels something from/within/about how HE see's his music, it's not actually BS... just not your cup of tea or line of thinking when defining jazz.

ask an improv theatre actor the main difference between what they do and scripted acting. they typically say 'freedom'.

[TheCoolBand1]

@bobness1957 It's fine to have a structure, boundaries as long as creativity can happen within those confines. Which, by the way, is what math is all about.

[bobness1957]

@TheCoolBand1 : if i am reading this right , you agree with my point?

breakdown:

His Analogy: colors, palettes, and flavors.

His Supposition:( @ 11:01) that a framework of time or key actually limits the artistic and spontaneous opportunities in the creative experience.

My Point: no it doesn't

[dreaminginnoother]

playing is great, the analysis is great, and its applicability to relationships and life in general is profound.

[koowaa]

Denzel!



[dreaminginnoother]

around 3:45 he plays the lick that turns it to a groove. fun to watch

[Ruxistico]

ain't no other genre that ever were as high on itself as jazz...

[herrbasan]

@Ruxistico well it is somewhat the hightech of music.

[ToxinalX]

This could easily be used as a way to illustrate different forms of the state; for example democracy, dictature etc

[hooloovoo1st]

I think I may be the only person who wasn't particularly impressed by this one. From what I understand, all he's saying is that there is definitionally no mistake possible if you have no plan. Obviously.

[WhichDoctor1]

@hooloovoo1st"all he's saying is that there is definitionally no mistake possible if you have no plan. Obviously." What I took him to say is there can be no mistakes if everyone is willing to adapt to change spontaneously and freely. As he said if someone plays a note thats out of key and its not picked up on then it sounds bad, if the other people are willing to pick up the new idea and run with it then there's no problem and no mistake. Its all about free exchange of ideas.

[Osuitea]

Lol.  Sneaky. Jazzy class.

[TheRealRayJ]

Why'd they mic the top of the vibes if the sound comes out of the resonators?

[ninjabob2456]

Vibraphone btw.

[divineagent]

Xylophone? Meh.

[murdockqotsa]

I liked his point, but if he applied it to situations outside of jazz, it would have elevated the speech imo.

There's a lot to learn from this and I loved the demonstration, but it was a bit incomplete.

[bassface84]

@murdockqotsa

well, since you can perceive that, you're smart enough to figure out how to apply it to whatever scenario you can think of...

imagine that, someone allowing you to interpret a concept as an individual as opposed to spelling it out for you. maybe you should view it again and adjust your perception... :-)

[murdockqotsa]

@bassface84 I am not asking him to spell it out for me, you smart ass. I was giving my honest critique of his speech.

Adjust my perception to what? YOURs?

[Yaarrr]

Man he fuckin rocked that xylophone

[vanGemertContrabas]

@Yaarrr Vibraphone. =P

[ImageOfReason]

That was beautiful.

[breekwhal]

i tell people this all the time. no such thing as mistakes! be free :)

[IndighostOfficial]

@breekwhal Except when you lock yourself out. That was a mistake

[chessdude67]

Enjoyed this very much. Thank you!

[pathsounds]

"The only way I would perceive that as a mistake is that we didn't react to it, it was an opportunity that was missed"

Awesome. That's gonna stay with me for the rest of my life.

Improvisation is all about going with the flow, knowing there is no wrong direction, because wherever you end up, you learn whatever it is you were going to learn.

[BoaZosen]

0:15

[CognosSquare]

His mouth is TOO DAMN SMALL!

[moseslozano2010]

is it just me or did TED finally lower down the volume on their intro? surprised that my ears weren't raped at the beginning

[tgseason12]

Really liked it, pretty cool!

[martinbondesson]

Pretty cool. I bet somewhere in that crowd Vincent and Max sits. I just had to, sorry...

[325982668]

the voice going "woo" could have been left out...

[zmonTepison]

@325982668 it could've, but it's common in jazz performances for the players to voice out a melody/theme so they can follow their thoughts better. it's organic; not quite intended, but not avoided either.

[325982668]

@zmonTepison oh of course, I know it's pretty regular, but it still takes me out of it, if he was doing scat it might have added to the performance but as it is, it sounds like a douchebag in the front row is loudly humming along. 

[Jakyle1]

@325982668 He's singing his improves... not for the audience, but for himself. If you watch a lot of players mouths they are mouthing softly.

[325982668]

@Jakyle1 which wouldn't bother me, if his mic wasn't on lol

[shintsu01]

Bravo great piece of Jazz there :) loved the talk that came with it

[LSD616]

nice video, too bad it's out of sync!

[MrHashmoney01]

Tough crowd, but a very good talk none the less.

[MrPlatonist]

@MrHashmoney01 yes! it's also an effective way to tell people that he doesn't just play random notes. even if he improvises, he knows exactly where he's going and why. that, to me is jazz

[MrPlatonist]

@MrPlatonist woops

[davidkirbymusician]

I adore how this fella just hums his phrases out while he plays, great way to reverse how you play.

[herrbasan]

i just have big problems keeping my head steady while playing :) most common i think.

[ewoldsund]

amazing

[uhhhhkevin]

hes right more cowbell

[Shanawolfo1]

This is why I love Jazz so much. The spontaneity. One dropped note, one slight change in tempo and like birds in flight the entire piece shifts of its own accord.. each member just along for the ride.

[CodyRicheson]

Here we have a group of highly skilled, respectable blacks playing music that is purely an American art form. And yet our radios would rather showcase the latest rappers and R&B disasters.

[LKBM]

@CodyRicheson Radios play what people choose to listen to because advertisers pay for listeners, not what you've decided is art.

[sirwut]

missing cowbell

[heintron]

@sirwut Needs more cowbell.