Since this is now officially the Jazz | Blues forum, we may as well see what people feel is the superior form. (I know that these types of threads have proven pointless in the long run, but they tend to yield interesting, often entertaining responses)

So what do you feel has contributed more to music as a whole? Jazz or Blues?

Are you asking 2 questions? There might be a difference between which one has contributed more and which one you like more. And you could even argue that one form had a greater influence while the other produced more valuable works in itself.

Well, to also provide some answers instead of just asking more questions, I'll say Blues is far better than Jazz.:tongue: 1)I like it more and 2)the Blues had a baby and they called it Rock 'n' Roll.

However, I feel obliged to say that I don't know much about Jazz. But what I heard of it never really impressed me. I could be wrong though.

Being that the 12 bar blues method spawned the composition that most rock is played off of I think blues get the nod for that, also for inventing "the lick". Rock music just would not have been the same without the blues. The main factor that puts blues over jazz to me is the more defined composition. Whereas it takes talent to noodle for hours on end, I think the main point behind music should be the composition factor, not how many ways you can turn a solo around.

...since anyone posted in this thread, too? I have to say that I just don't get why there's so much apathy about these two music forms. "They" say Jazz died a long time ago, and that Blues is going down that same old lonesome road. I say "They" is a bunch of self-appointed Experts who think Music is only what most people like, and that what most people like is what they're told they're supposed to like to be COOOL!

Anyway, to stay on topic, I think Blues is the seed of most music forms we here in the west listen to... the 1/4/5 progression is the skeleton of Traditional Jazz, Rock in all it's permutations, Country AND Western, Folk, Reggae, Pop, you name it; even Rap and Hip-Hop owe their rhythms and lyrical structures to Walkin'/Talkin' Blues.

Regarding Jazz vs. Blues, the way I see it is that Jazz is the evolution of, and experimentation with, Blues... so the question really boils down to What do you, as an individual, value more in Music; Tradition or Innovation? It's a matter of taste, isn't it? I just wish more folks knew and appreciated what they inherited.

I prefer blues simply because blues for me is more accessable and, of course, easier to play