I've recently scored a second steady gig, this one with a 4 piece band in the rest/bar/lounge atop the Stratosphere Hotel here in Vegas. We've started doing some "chill" stuff, along with the repertoire of 80's - to now pop tunes and the occaisional jazz standard.

I'm noticing that the people really respond to the chill stuff - - even though I'm just hitting a beat, and improvising most of it, we get the nods, smiles, as if we were playing a familiar tune to them. It's probably the repetitive nature of it that creates the comfort of familiarity to the audience. Ok - - plus I think I don't exactly suck at it either.

I can't help but say again - - this stuff if a BIG part of the future of live music. And you can get started by just picking up a Motiff -- it's already programmed with more than 5 nites worth of performances on which you can jam/create new stuff.

I can't help but say again - - this stuff if a BIG part of the future of live music. And you can get started by just picking up a Motiff -- it's already programmed with more than 5 nites worth of performances on which you can jam/create new stuff.

I'm going to hold out for one with seven night's worth of music. Call me an optimist.

I recently did a three set gig of total improvisation jazz, which was in more of a groove chill genre (we were asked to keep it chill and groovy by the management).

It was a trio (CP33/Motif, bass and drums/percussion) and we rotated the start of each tune and often changed keys and time signatures, but kept things pretty groovy. We all really dug it, and so did the audience. Never once did it occur to me to use any of the Motif performances, I guess I'm just too old school to let the machine play for me.

We were asked back a month later and added a DJ (first time ever playing with a DJ) to spin beats while we grooved and this looks like its going to develop into a regular thing (although the DJ did limit how far we could stretch, so we will likely go back to the trio format and this reinforces my earlier machine comment).

The club told us they were going to market it as "live chill jazz," whatever the hell that means.

It was a blast and it's interesting to see how far we can push this, musically without getting "too out" for the audience. Only time will tell.

I've written some chill tunes with the Korg M3. People really do enjoy it, and it's easy to create that type of music.

Time will tell regarding the future of chill... I like some of it, but a lot that I've heard on YouTube seems like "fluff."

Ok, I must be out of it...what is chill jazz????

No really, Im not kidding...just point me to an artist I ghuess..so I can check it out...

Its not smooozze jazz is it? Or jam band?

That's the kind of gig I'd love to have; something where you could just provide some jazzy, trip-hop-ish musical wallpaper without a lot of pressure to play hits or dance tunes.

Heck, I'd patron a place that did that a few times a week, even if the drinks were expensive. I'm usually so spent by the end of the week that going out to listen to loud-high-and-fast is the last thing I want to do.

Now get off my lawn.

I've done a lot of that in the last year or so. But playing musical "wallpaper" sometimes makes me feel detached from the crowd. Yes, there's less pressure, but also less interaction and appreciation (it seems anyway).

You are not alone. I'm clueless too. Can't say I've ever heard the term "chill jazz". The name implies that it might be similar to either smooth jazz or cool jazz, but from some of the comments above, I guess not.

A few years ago, I was doing a jazz trio in a restaurant, when somewhere early in the set the manager came up to me and asked if we could play more loungy. So the drummer took a cymbal and put it on top of his snare. He starts laying down a groove, but now the snare sounds completely electronic and really dry. I switch to a phased out rhodes sound and we just started jamming on a simple minor 7th vamp. The manager gives us a thumbs up and the people suddenly go from completely ignoring us to slowly acknowledging what we're playing.

It was very, very cool to be able to just completely improvise the rest of the night.

Radd, I agree.

Like Jam bands, Chill/Downtempo (C/D) is a part of the future of live music. It can be applied to tunes from different genres.

C/D formerly known as Lounge music focuses on the vibe and groove moreso than solos. A lot of it is electronica-based nowadays. Satellite radio has a few dedicated channels.

Actually, 'The Odd Couple' theme is my favorite example of an early tune.

IMO, the C/D aesthetic will become more appealing in live music especially as folks grow older..more chill.

Me, too. Is there "chill" and "chill jazz", or are they one and the same?

If I were to use a pre-programed "song" (in performance mode) on a Motif, and play off of it ("jamb" to it), is that what "chill" music is?

Or is "chill" music referring to music that is just "laid back"?

Examples of artists, songs, would be really appreciated here.

The first thing that came to mind was the music from THE BIG CHILL.

I have no idea what "chill jazz" was when we were asked to play it. I still don't know what it is.

As we're all "straight ahead" jazz players in our group (no smooth jazz please!), we just laid down some groovy changes and played our usual jazz improv styles over them.

As far as being detached from the audience, it was quite the opposite and since the audience was told everything was improv, they seemed MORE involved than usual, since they were part of something fresh, new and immediate.

Will this catch on? Who knows. It's fun to to play, but I won't be giving up playing Monk anytime soon.

Perhaps, but I've never had a performer's mindset; crowd interaction isn't something I'd be good at. Being paid to noodle unnoticed in the corner sounds like fun to me.

Funny, at a wedding not long ago, I was there early for soundcheck, the drummer, bass n I started grooving on a HH Thrust type thing just to do the sc..people mulling waiting for horderveys gathered in front of the stage and actually were grooving to a type of music that groups dont do anymore..we ended up playing for about an hour, talked to people as it was very informal...but I would never think to call it chill..or chili for that matter..later when we did the wedding, it was back to the same old smoozie s*** that bands do at weddings..mabey sometimes older stuff sounds newer to people...

We do a lot of this and people also complement. Doing tea shop gig
its just what people want, a background soundpaper that you can talk over yet still feel the special live music. What works Really well is a spoken word poetry over it. It brings it together. Get a groove going ,a couple versus of Good poetry which breaks into a solo , Space -out into more poetry verse's. Really Much fun and give people listening some more meat. We call it Praise JAM

IMO, Chill is a style that can be applied to anything else. It is playing with enough space and at tempos that allow listeners to sit back and dig or get up and dance.

Smooth Jazz is still about compostions intended for active listening. The artists want to heard and recognized.

Again, Chill is a vibe. Original compositions and cover tunes provide a template that could keep musos in the audience from expecting a wank-fest.

The 'Books' are filled with tunes worthy of Chill treatment. Monk is one of my favorites too.

Hmmm...same as nu-jazz?

I like this style a lot... but then I think theres room for everything... I particularly like Uri Caine's electronica/rhodes stuff with Bedrock (video now playing!)...

nu-jazz and groovey jazz with modern dancey beats is a way to bring it to a wider audience...

True.

Guess I need to "chill out" a bit.

Are we talking like down tempo "Sneaker Pimps" or something like this? http://popup.lala.com/popup/3531103604550859389

Very cool track - I'm not sure this would "quite" fit the definition - IMHO. (I know, it's such a wide genre, with so many names, who's to say really?)

An aspect, I think, of chill - is that while some of it does have vocals, it's not really a song format, where the story-line, and lyrics of the song are the forefront. (as is with this track). Most of the vocals I hear in most chill music is almost completely part of the "groove".

"Air" is a French duo that produces very good Chill tracks:

Air "Modular Mix"

Some Chill tracks are composed in standard Pop format and feature vocals.

Charlotte Gainsbourg "AF607105" The track was produced by Air.

Zero 7's "Distractions" is still one of my favorites. Here is Sia doing a live in studio performance:

"Distractions"

As Radd mentioned intially, the Motif has cool arps which provide an excellent template for Chill. I've heard similar in Korg and Roland KBs too.

Some old-school "chill"
Lonnie Liston Smith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_M9NvaNxoI&feature=related

Between 76-79 I lived just south of DC. Don't recall the station, but I used to listen to a program called "The Quiet Storm", with the tune of the same name by Smokey kicking off the program. It turned me on to classic stuff like "2 Tenors" with the Coltrane and Mobley, the west coast jazz sound of Brubeck and Chet Baker, but also the chill of that age; Gato Barbieri, Lonnie Liston Smith, Deodato and the like. Loved that channel. Anyone recognize the program? Does it still air?

It still airs on WHUR 96.3 with the same theme song too. Mostly adult contemporary format.

Every now and then, they play old tunes that certainly fit in the Chill mode.

Sweet! Back then...it was way cool. Catching Gil Scott Heron, followed by Miles, followed by Marvin, and on and on. Did some serious chillin to it.

Thanks for that.

Can you be more specific--what type of gig this is? Not many "tea shops" around here.

I think some of you guys had better be careful what you wish for - because you just might get it. This Chill movement sounds like the next (last?) nail in the coffin of live music in clubs. Basically it sounds to me like instrumental karaoke. If I was a cynical club owner (as if there was any other kind), I'd be looking at the arithmetic: Band @ $600.00/night, DJ @ $400.00/night, "Chill Vibe" station on XM @ $12.95/ month, and my patrons would be "Chillin'" with the best of them.

Club owners have always used technology. The jukebox, DJ and karaoke, etc., haven't totally replaced bands.

Live performance is more than music. It is image and personality.

Folks will pay for entertainment that can bring revenue into their establishment whether it is acoustic, electronic or holographic.

Nowadays, some DJs get paid more than bands.

Chill doesn't have to be instrumental karaoke just as not all Jazz, Prog Rock and Jam Bands are self-indulgent wank-fests.

Musos can use the Chill approach as a viable aspect of live music especially as their audiences get older.

Otherwise, clubs, public and private events will require some form of music entertainment.

There very well could be a band, DJ and satellite radio subscription on the same bill.

Hello Wastrell - in other threads here on this topic, I have advocated completely the opposite.

In my city, and also on the Las Vegas strip (kind of another world, within my city) - - there is still live music going on. And the most untapped market for the performance of "non-name" live music, is for parties and restaurants. Corporate/private and public. On at least two occaisions, I have personally taken corporate gigs AWAY from a DJ, and given the client: Live music / music they wanted to hear / music appropriate for the occaision.

Your point about XM is well taken - - in fact, at most of the high-end restaurants in my city - - (and most of these are "name" chefs from NY, LA, etc.) - - there is chill music playing, probably from XM. So - - this is the sound of today. And it can soooo easily be performed by any competent musician who wants to.

Chill music is our chance to take our gigs back!!! :-)