Due to the present crises in the U.S., it must be said that jazz journalists universally endorse harmony — even when there’s discord.
If I may write here as the Jazz Journalists Association’s president, convinced no member will disagree: We thrive, and believe the music does, too, through the collaborations of people across the spectrum of creative humanity, celebrating differences in our individual “races,” ethnicities, religions, genders, ages, and even wealth without letting those differences interfere with our constructive, productive activities.
We believe, as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said when opening the 1964 Berlin Jazz Festival, “Jazz speaks for life.”
We honor his idea that in chaos, “the musician creates an order and meaning from the sounds of the earth which flows through his instrument.”
Those sounds are generated by breath and touch. We need free air and personal contact, which should only be suspended to fight the spread of disease. Dr. King said, “Much of the power of our Freedom Movement in the United States has come from this music.” The music has indeed powered freedom, hope, love and humanism worldwide, and we have faith it will continue to be a nourishment and guide going forward.
As Mary Maria Parks wrote for Albert Ayler, “Music is the healing force of the universe.” We look to our musical leaders now to sustain, calm and steel our resolves to reform this world so all people, born equal, enjoy their inalienable rights. Together we can conquer disease and hate, quell violence, and protect earth as well as society from our mistakes, misapprehensions and downright evils.
The JJA is not a politically-aligned organization. I will though, urge members, friends and readers to play, listen, enjoy, be generous, stay safe and keep in mind that the U.S. Declaration of Independence asserts, “whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government. . .
“[W]hen a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
We may express ourselves with words, images, sounds — and actions. We must guard our abilities to express our wills to our representatives, and we in the U.S, come the scheduled November election, must vote.
