Recent tragic events in the Gulf Coast region of the United States have demonstrated both the good and bad sides of jazz. Good because of the numerous benefits held throughout the city in September, continuing into the coming months no doubt, to provide relief to the residents of the stricken area. Jazz is a music with a long history and everyone knows New Orleans’ place in that lineage. It is heartening to see musicians of every stripe and genre take time to assist in what ways they can.However, on a national scale, the downside to the tragedy, and this is a quibbling argument in this time of real human suffering, is what it takes for jazz as an art form and part of American history to come into the forefront of this country’s consciousness. When submerged under water is when people finally begin speaking of the legacy of New Orleans as the birthplace of jazz and the shame it is to have it be seemingly destroyed. How long will this love affair with jazz last? Not too long one imagines. Will it translate into a higher awareness and appreciation of this unique American contribution to world culture? Whether New Orleans ends up rebuilt and revitalized or possibly is never the same again, jazz will remain submerged under the weight of public indifference. A few specials on mainstream television with dixieland soundtracks will hardly change the situation. Even Wynton Marsalis, New Orleans’ most famous son, must find it bittersweet that he was approached to discuss his city’s rich heritage by primetime TV news programs only after it was nearly obliterated.
But we should think of this only briefly as we continue to help. There will be many more opportunities to go to a benefit concert and we should all consider ourselves lucky we can have the double pleasure of seeing great music and helping those less fortunate than ourselves. New Yorkers know about survival. Let’s take time to return the favor the rest of the country did for us when we were the focus of national attention.
See you at the shows...
Laurence Donohue-Greene & Andrey Henkin
For more information contact All About Jazz.
