Fourth Line

"Jazz, report security status." -- Prime to Jazz

Few statements in the Prime canon knit aesthetic and political concerns so closely as this fourth line. Ask anybody, "What kind of music do you like," and it will be clear from their response whether or not they are living a Prime life. Sure, Jazz is the name of a Porsche, not NECESSARILY a genre of music unique to America that rivals the world's great puzzles (the Rubix cube, Parcheesi, Mike Ditka's hair) in complexity. But if the person responds to the question of musical taste with an, "Um...I like everything, except jazz," you have just spotted someone with a life divisible by some number other than one and itself. Scatman Carothers voiced the funky Jazz with the same restraint and dignity he had brought to the role of Hong Kong Phooey. When Prime calls Jazz out, he is summoning up all of Scatman's faux-Ray Charles soul, the quiet fire of a Duke Ellington arrangement, and the rags-to-riches qualities of a mild-mannered pooch named Penrod who works as a janitor by day and crime fighter by night. It's obvious that Prime likes Jazz, and I hesitate to lay down a stern ruling that EVERY Prime Liver must follow accordingly, tempting though it is, but I will say that the person who poo-poos Thelonius Monk is getting dangerously close to a life ending in a 5 or 0.

What precisely does Prime like about Jazz? Let us count the ways.
1. Its focus on improvisation.
The Prime Life is about flying by the seat of your pants, figuratively of course, as a gigantic robots with metal for bodies need no clothing. Prime is ready and willing to abandon a plan on the spur of the moment if he thinks it is best for his cause. We cannot forget the crucial decision Prime made at the end of the thrilling three part series, "More than Meets the Eye."
2. Its swinging swagger.
There is a quiet rage burning inside Prime, as there should be within the Prime Liver. Since Prime doesn't have bowels, that rage cannot be an irritable syndrome of some sort. It must rather be the confidence of a pretty groovy robot. You can be sure that Prime takes the Astro Train uptown, on the coolsville beat, daddy-o.
3. Its use of saxophones.
Optimus Prime loves saxophones, particularly altos. 'Nuff said.

A small note about the report Prime demands. He holds his staff accountable. When he asks a question, he expects a straight answer, even if it's coming from a Porsche voiced by someone named 'Scatman.' Prime could very well have asked Jazz's cohort Cliffjumper for the report, fearing that Jazz might bippity-bop back some cute response: "Things are doody-doody-do here, Prime. Scooey-oop, cha-bow!" Prime asks the question with sobriety, and Jazz answers accordingly. Jazz is not just about crazy hopped up on horse soloists doing their thang. It's more than Dizzy and Bird honkin' on bobo. It's also "Naima" and "Stardust Memories." When it comes to reporting the security status, take things seriously, Prime Livers. It's only your ability to play the riff correctly that lets those cool cats in the audience know when your space ship is launching out into the unexplored regions of the universe, you dig?