Why do jazz musicians often repeat an obviously wrong note like they actually meant to play it?

Question

I love jazz, but I hate it when a jazz musician hits a discordant note then continues to repeat it as if he actually didn't make a mistake.  Is there some kind of crazy jazz name for that improvisation technique?  Are they trying to be funny, because it's not.

For example, a keyboard player will accidently hit an adjacent key causing some nasty harmonics.  He then continues to bang the same two notes with impunity like he didn't actually just make an obvious mistake while the rest of the accompaniment plays along with the travesty.  It's even more annoying when a saxophone player honks a sour note and keeps burping it up.

I noticed however that drummers never repeat a mistake or try to fake like missing a beat or adding one wasn't a mistake.  If a drummer get's off beat he promptly gets back in sync.

Any thoughts?

Mike · Answer

Ca you give any examples?

snafu · Answer

If they mean to play it, it’s not a wrong note.  They’re playing with harmonies and mood.  Different scales and modes which may sound discordant.  It creates tension which is then, usually, resolved.  Read up on music theory and improvisational techniques.

yet-knish! · Answer

I've been listening to jazz for a long time and I can't remember ever hearing anyone do that.  But most of what I have listened to was from the 60s or before.  Is that something that's done nowadays?  If they're trying to make it sound like it wasn't a mistake, that strikes me as rather gutless, not to mention in poor taste.

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Why do jazz musicians often repeat an obviously wrong note like they actually meant to play it?

3 Answers