Jazz Articles about The Ditties

The Ditties: Finding Freedom in Swing

by Matthew Vasiliauskas
May 15, 2023

When asked what interested her about the jazz art form, Nina Simone responded, “I had spent many years pursuing excellence, because that is what classical music is all about. But jazz is dedicated to freedom, and that is far more important." Typically, what drives an artist's ambition, is the desire to hold mastery over their medium. Whether for their own gratification, or to attract the attention of others, the artist wants to bend the established rules of their ...