In this unit we have heard both Miles Davis and John Coltrane go from a relatively conventional head-solo-head based approach, using tunes, chord progressions and melodies, to a more free form approach where almost anything goes

In this unit we have heard both Miles Davis and John Coltrane go from a relatively conventional head-solo-head based approach, using tunes, chord progressions and melodies, to a more free form approach where almost anything goes. Some people love this approach, saying that is is pure expression and they find the performances exhilarating, exciting and very satisfying. Others feel that this "free" jazz is called "free" because no one in their right mind would actually pay to listen to it! They find it self indulgent, noisy and lacking in any demonstration of actual skill.What do you think? We know jazz, at its core, has to do with the self expression of the musicians. But does it become self-indulgent noise?Should the artist care if most of the public thinks they have gone too far? Some feel that Coltrane and Miles "ruined jazz" by driving away the last of their dwindling audience with "free jazz". So....is avant-garde or free jazz the ultimate in self expression or self indulgent noise?

Remember, we are talking about the later “free jazz” offerings in the unit. Both Coltrane and Davis have examples of more structured approaches in this unit. Those are NOT what we are commenting on here (unless, of course, by comparison).