Geoff Dyer but Beautiful

Susanna Alfaro

Jazz Literature

The Afterward, But Beautiful

1. In the 1st section of afterward Dyer is trying to introduce Jazz using references from john Steiner´s book, Real Presences. Dyer introduces Jazz as a “Republic”

I believe he is trying to explain how is it that jazz evolves. How after a famous jazz player comes along another one trying to be a critic of him and then creates a new jazz-fusion and beat. Each musician once tried to play like someone else, and along the years they got their own musical style.

2. Standard piece of music means an old original song, that has been played by all of the jazz musicians that follow. It’s a piece of music which new musicians try to test it to see if there is something he could change.

3. When a musician plays a song written by someone else, momentarily he catches up on a phrase and make an improvised solo of it. These solos turn into another composition. This is the way Dyer says jazz replenishes itself.

4. Dyer thinks that jazz written criticism is insignificant because when you listen to jazz music it is simultaneously explaining and questioning itself, so for a critic to write about it strips away the dynamic of the performance.

5. Dyer acknowledges that Jazz is an African American music that represents not only their people but also of a century. I agree with this statement and believe that jazz represents African American culture, but I also think that is a universal music that was and still is enjoyed by both black and white people.

6. I definitely agree that Jazz has a dangerous side to it. Most of the jazz players became serious drug addicts, and eventually died tragically. But in perspective, now day celebrities also get caught up on drugs and the fast life. So in general the pressure of being a performer catches up with you.

7. Towards the end of 1950, bebop was on its final days. Musicians didn’t find the inspiration and freshness it once brought. So they felt...