Download Observations About Jazz

GEOG 100 Themes
Case Study: Jazz
Observations About Jazz
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A main theme in this class is cross-fertilization –
the production of new syntheses as a result of
the interaction or collision of cultures. There are
many forms of music that originated largely in
the U.S. as a result of the interaction between
African-American and Euro-American culture,
with most of the influences coming from the
black side.
Jazz is truly a wondrous example of a new
hybrid that has gone global and blended with
other influences – Latin, reggae, gypsy, and
other forms of 'world music.' It has been
described as “the classical music of America.”
Observations About Jazz
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It is something I am personally very passionate
about, because it symbolizes so many things
that are potentially contradictory:
It combines a mastery of classical music theory
with musical traditions that have bubbled up
from the grassroots.
Its practitioners have been strongly
individualistic, while the music at the same time
requires extraordinary cooperation and
collaboration.
It requires enormous technical discipline and yet
allows for incredible freedom of expression and
improvisation.
Observations About Jazz
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It respects its traditions and idioms and yet is
constantly innovating.
It is also the first form of serious and popular music
that saw integration of musicians – black musicians
into white bands, and white musicians into black
bands. While the scene was not free of racism,
there was a lot of collaboration and mutual respect
– far more so than in the rest of society at the time.
So, jazz has strongly conveyed a message of
equality.
It hasn't been as inclusive of women; it has largely been
male-dominated, but there have been notable exceptions,
such as Louis Armstrong's wife, Lil, who is credited with
really launching his career. Lil Hardin was a pianist,
composer, and arranger...
Observations About Jazz
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All of these aspects mean that jazz has conveyed a
philosophy and way of being whose significance
transcends music. Interestingly enough, because of its
libertarian spirit, it has earned the wrath of totalitarian
regimes of both the left and right. After playing a clip, I will
read (time permitting) some derogatory statements about
jazz made by the Nazis and the Soviets under Stalin.
Another example of how American music has reverberated around the world is the Beatles – a British band that
developed its chops playing Black American rhythm and
blues (Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Motown) to German
audiences before making it big in the U.K., whereupon
they formed – along with other rhythm and blues-based
bands – the “British invasion” that revolutionized American music which had been the original source of
inspiration.