Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Female Fragrance Discussion › What to wear when playing jazz?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

What to wear when playing jazz?

post #1 of 26
7/24/12 at 9:49am
Thread Starter 
Hello, dear friends,

you might know I'm a bassist, classical by training. I play piano, too, and love jazz, but more as a listener than a player. Lately, I've had the urge to try some jazz, get my hands on it, so I ordered some piano books form a wonderful pianist and educator, David Pearl. One of them is a Billy Strayhorn album. Way more than top, middle, and bottom notes, we are into 9th chords, even augmented 13ths. Thick, consonant and dissonant all at once. SO, what goes with Billy Strayhorn? Better, what would Billy wear? Initial suspicion is Guerlainis this my moment for trying the Guerlain masculines at last?



- - - Updated - - -

psyou can't not lurv this photo!
Reply
Reply

Features on Basenotes

Greatest Hits: Annick Menardo
Petals Falling From The Sky - A Report From The Cote d'Azur's Bataille De Fleurs
Basenotes Reader Awards 2013 - Finalists Announced.
post #2 of 26
7/24/12 at 9:53am
Something smokey, with slightly leathery, cigar smoke, type notes, maybe a touch of booziness? When I think of Jazz I think opulent art deco lounges, with ladies in long evening gowns with cigarettes in the long holders, alcohol in hand, and the men dressed in tuxedos or suits with fedoras and cigars in their hands.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 26
7/24/12 at 10:02am
Thread Starter 
Sounds like I need to layer my Caron Yatagan with something tuberose and/or gardenia, Beaux (may I call you that?). You hit the nail on the head. Excellent call (;
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 26
7/24/12 at 10:36am
[yes you may] and thank you, you said Jazz and the picture you posted just put the imagery in my head.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 26
7/24/12 at 10:42am
Thread Starter 
Strayhorn was only 17 when he wrote Lush Life, with it's complex harmonies, and incredible lyrics—look for internal rhymes and sophisticated wordplay—perfect to accompany the photo:


Quote:
I used to visit all the very gay places
Those come-what-may places
Where one relaxes on the axis of the wheel of life
To get the feel of life from jazz and cocktails

The girls I knew had sad and sullen gray faces
With distingue traces that used to be there
You could see where they'd been washed away
By too many through the day, twelve o'clock tales

Then you came along with your siren song
To tempt me to madness
I thought for awhile that your poignant smile
Was tinged with the sadness of a great love for me
Ah yes, I was wrong
Again, I was wrong

Life is lonely again and only last year
Everything seemed so sure
Now life is awful again
A trough full of hearts could only be a bore

A week in Paris could ease the bite of it
All I care is to smile in spite of it

I'll forget you, I will while yet you are still
Burning inside my brain romance is mush
Stifling those who strive

So I'll live a lush life in some small dive
And there I'll be
While I rot with the rest of those
Whose lives are lonely too

Note: some lyrics sites get "distingué traces" wrong, and set it down as "distant gay traces". Having used "gay" in the first stanza, Strayhorn was far more likely to play on it with "distingué" that to merely repeat the word, as in the "jazz and cocktails"/"twelve o'clock tales" riff in the same song.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 26
7/24/12 at 11:28am
I have to admit I was curious so I listened to one of his songs on youtube. Wow, how cool was that... I was blown away.

I'd say vintage Cabochard by Gres
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 26
7/24/12 at 12:00pm
Fantastic! I am a huge jazz lover. I would try Caron-Tabac Blond, Balmain-Ivoire, EL-Azuree, Serge Lutens-Iris Silver Mist, Bois Oriental, to start.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 26
7/24/12 at 12:58pm
What about ysl live jazz? At least the name fits perfectly...
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 26
7/24/12 at 1:56pm
I'd go with something smoky, dark and....cozy. Intrigant Patchouli, Black Tournaline, Tabac Blond...
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 26
7/24/12 at 2:03pm
Do I have to be "that guy" and say Jazz or Live Jazz by YSL
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 26
7/24/12 at 2:16pm
Knize Ten- for the more classic, established musical trends, sub-trends, genres and sub-genres within Jazz
Some experimental CDG or Voyage d'Hermes- for playing the more experimental, non-linear, highly individual way
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 26
7/24/12 at 2:27pm
Samsara would be perfect.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 26
7/24/12 at 2:46pm
Strayhorn- what a genius. His collaborations with Ellington....eternal
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 26
7/24/12 at 5:11pm
Wow, what a handsome and superbly talented man he was.

Such a combo along with your Guerlain suspicions makes me think Derby! But to be more period-accurate with something that was around in Strayhorn's day?

Rochas Moustache?

And here's one I've never smelled but the idea/description of it immediately came to mind when I listened to Strayhorn's music just now:




http://www.basenotes.net/threads/175503 Probably really difficult to find though??? But Yatagan is close enough to all, and I think Yatgan is great on a woman.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 26
7/24/12 at 5:24pm
Lancome Magie Noire
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 26
7/24/12 at 5:55pm
Thread Starter 
Magie Noire I have, the rest are all so inspiring, and many are the floral/leather/tobacco vibe I just love. I think I'll start with Tabac Blond and proceed. Vintage or current. I am a vintage fan, but I like to be practical at least some of the time. Thanks to all for such great suggestions and insights. After i get the piano tuned and practice, I'll post a video.
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 26
7/25/12 at 1:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jujy54 View Post

After i get the piano tuned and practice, I'll post a video.

Yes, please!
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 26
7/25/12 at 8:46pm
Echoing Tabac Blond, and adding Caron Poivre to the list - smells like a carnation who has fallen among evil companions. Not a "nice girl" perfume at all, but more for a girl who WOULD.....frequent after hour jazz dives.
Reply
Reply
post #19 of 26
7/25/12 at 9:34pm
Thread Starter 
Where does one even find Tabac Blond these days? All that's on ebay is a 22 ml decant.
Reply
Reply
post #20 of 26
7/25/12 at 11:10pm
Oh, Jujy, you never cease to amaze. That is wonderful that you are learning jazz piano! Please do post a video sometime!!! I'm a huge jazz fan and love Billy Strayhorn (how could one not???) Anyway, I do agree with a smoky, tobacco scent. What about Fumerie Turque or Habanita? Somehow, I can also imagine a really sweet, gently honeyed floral too; jazz can really hit a sweet spot and give such pleasure. Perhaps something like Sweet Redemption, but maybe that is a bit too sweet. Acqua Allegoria Nerolia also popped in my head, but that is probably too light. I'll have to think. If you were playing Fats Waller's Honeysuckle Rose, then that might be easier to match! lol...
Reply
Reply
post #21 of 26
7/26/12 at 2:51am
I second Samsara. And Habanita would be wonderful, too.
Reply
Reply
post #22 of 26
7/26/12 at 3:04am
Tabu.... be bad.
Antelope by Weil
Definitely Cabochard
Habitana - yes
Tabac Blond - yes
My Sin - for sure
Reply
Reply
post #23 of 26
7/26/12 at 8:24am
Luca Turin compared Amouage Lyric to a jazz piece, with its thick fruity dissonant notes. Though my knowledge of jazz is limited, I agree that Lyric is quite strange, with a winey feel and lots of notes coming up.

Current tabac blond is so so in the edt. The top of the parfum is wonderful, whiskey, boozy, rich; but then I feel it becomes a touch too sweet in the drydown. Plus the parfum is expensive, as usual.

cacio
Reply
Reply
post #24 of 26
7/26/12 at 8:33am
I noticed they have Tabac Blond on LuckyScent. I still believe the best juice is from Paris. (Contact The Shopfrance site on Ebay-not affiliated)
Reply
Reply
post #25 of 26
8/3/12 at 11:04pm
Samsara.
Reply
Reply
post #26 of 26
8/4/12 at 7:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jujy54 View Post

Where does one even find Tabac Blond these days? All that's on ebay is a 22 ml decant.

I bought pure perfume on Lucky Scent and it smells GREAT!
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Female Fragrance Discussion

Features on Basenotes

Greatest Hits: Annick Menardo
Petals Falling From The Sky - A Report From The Cote d'Azur's Bataille De Fleurs
Basenotes Reader Awards 2013 - Finalists Announced.
Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Female Fragrance Discussion › What to wear when playing jazz?