Acceptable

I found myself watching the documentary Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser the other night. I’m not a fan of jazz; not even close. I’ve always loved music. I’ve played it and written some of it and listened to it as often as I could when I was young. But the entry into Jazz has always eluded me, and I felt there was enough music in the world whose entry was more easily accessible that I did not need to bother spending so much time looking for the way in.

As I began watching the documentary, which featured numerous long clips of live performances, I was reminded why I’ve never bought a jazz album. Yet it wasn’t long before I found I was enjoying watching Monk play. His relationship to the piano seemed so complete and so effortless. His work is highly improvisational, and so watching him compose in real time was a little like seeing music. Soon, I couldn’t tell if I liked the music or not; I felt I would like any noises he made at the keyboard because they would have to be true.

However, since then, I have not run out and bought any Thelonious Monk or jazz of any kind. I’m still not a fan. I’m tempted to explain why. I know enough about music and music theory and the relationship between the artist and the audience that I could probably make an articulate argument for my aesthetic, an argument that would ultimately boil down to this: I’m not the problem; jazz is the problem.

Except there is no problem. It’s just that watching Monk play reminded me why it sometimes seems like there’s a problem. What was happening with him at the piano seemed so pure that I felt I could love it the same way I could love any newborn infant you placed in my arms. Monk playing and newborns were like love itself, and how can you not love love? It’s another writer’s lesson in the rules of rejection. Love is never rejected, but the myriad forms it takes will never please everyone. It doesn’t matter. The form doesn’t really matter, the song doesn’t really matter, and the story doesn’t really matter, only where it comes from matters because that’s what we are and that’s acceptable to everyone.

If you like the ideas and perspectives expressed here, feel free to contact me about individual coaching and group workshops.

Fearless Writing: How to Create Boldly and Write With Confidence.
You can find William at: williamkenower.com