That's a very academic perspective which I cannot share as a musician. Music needs no formal specification to exist. It's like a language, but a language for emotional, not rational communication. Btw. science exists by itself as well and doesn't depend on a "scientific method". Like in music, philosophers tried to understand how science works after the fact, and there is a plethora of philosophic optinions how science works. And we can pretty well do science without caring much of all those opinions. The same applies to music.
> Jazz musicians who can't cite theory don't use 7ths by accident.
I don't understand this argument. It's unavoidable to use 7ths, regardless whether the musician can name the interval or not.
I think we're closer than you realize, and I just did a poor job laying out my position. Unfortunately, I lack the language to get closer to what I mean.
> Jazz musicians who can't cite theory don't use 7ths by accident.
I don't understand this argument. It's unavoidable to use 7ths, regardless whether the musician can name the interval or not.