The Boston Music Scene: How The City Molds Its Music

We know there's something special about Boston music. In part nine of The Boston Music Scene series, Bradley Jay seeks to discover the elusive reasons for this.

BOSTON (CBS) –The environment in which any art is created affects the art itself. It necessarily follows that the unique city of Boston must, in tangible ways, influence the music made here.

Berklee College of Music President Roger Brown believes the cultural heritage of Boston influences our music.

"I think there's a strong folkloric music tradition, probably because of the Celtic and Irish roots of the city. There's a big, American roots music movement here that's even independent of the schools of music. So a lot of great bluegrass and new acoustic string players come here," says Brown.

Another factor that forges Boston musical art is the confluence of cultures that gather here and bring fresh musical structures that are tough to find elsewhere in the United States.

"Boston has a lot of microtonal history, which means music that doesn't stick to the 12 notes per octave. The access that I have to musicians from all over the world— I don't have that anywhere else," Berklee College of Music faculty guitarist David David Fiuczynski explains.

Greg LoPiccolo, former bass man for '80s rockers Tribe, believes there's another factor that gives Boston music a particular slant.

"In my experience, it seems like Boston youth culture has kind of an edge to it," LoPiccolo says. "Not everyone is necessarily super nice. Some people like that, and some people don't. In terms of how that translates into music, I think it creates music that's got a specific kind of bite to it. It's pretty appealing."

In the final segment of this series, Bradley Jay goes to the best spot to hear local up-and-coming jazz musicians.

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