A couple weeks ago I was listening to TED Radio Hour and got to this segment on Are There Mistakes In Jazz.
The gist of it, as musical and theatrical improvisation are brothers, definitely applies: listening and accepting are principals that success is built on. An artistic collaboration falls apart and sours when you don't actively pay attention to and adapt to your partners.
Listen to the segment. When they play the F# as a dissonant note against piece and no one adapts, and it just sounds wrong? I don't know about you but that is exactly the same gut reaction I have watching an improv scene that's thrashing. It's the same physical experience (upset stomach, pursed brow,flinching). Same with when Stefon Harris bullies his way through a song. I got the identical feeling from that that I get when I see someone seriously steamroll someone on stage (clentchy teeth, closed, rolled eyes)
Unpleasant!
But isn't it wonderful when it all does come together? And isn't it magical when the mistakes get turned into what makes things interesting?
