Jazz Democracy: Concept & Dialogue Framework
Jazz democracy dialogues / Improvisation through arts and education
How can we approach arts, humanities and education through creative interaction and dialogue?
Jazz Democracy explores how jazz, as a universal language, can serve as a model for communication, collaboration, and democratic thinking across art, education, and society.
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“Jazz democracy dialogues / Improvisation through arts and education:
How can we approach arts, humanities, and education with creative interaction through the Jazz Democracy concept”
Dimitrios Vassilakis
Concept Analysis:
The aim is to showcase how jazz, as a universal language, can teach us how to develop dialogue on equal terms and communicate in a more humane, democratic and creative way. The focus will be on conceptual elements in a jazz performance that can be utilised and embraced when approaching work, social, cultural, or political issues.
Under Jazz Democracy (JD) dialogues, we explore how this great American art form has become global and embraced the broad democratic values first established in ancient Greece. We will also demonstrate how jazz has always integrated minority groups, an issue especially relevant today amid global economic and refugee crises. On the other end, we will also comment on the connection with dance, visual arts, and new technologies in art and society, as well as the ongoing dialogue with artificial intelligence.
Through open, roundtable discussions, special focus shall be given to the fundamental role of education, how it is taught, and how we can make it more creative under the above JD concepts.
The way we see arts, humanities, and knowledge as we enter 2022 should inspire the audience to feel that their creative engagement can shape future communication and interaction.
In jazz improvisation, the only thing that matters is how you play in the moment within the given context. Everything else (background, colour, titles, etc.) is irrelevant. It is the actions in context, alone, through which one can claim their place and value in a group, time, and environment. This is the ideal of Democracy in Jazz, reminiscent of Aristotle’s definition of “Areti” as something that is continuously negotiated and must (and can) be earned through action.
If we can see life through this prism, exemplified in jazz performance, handling even complex issues becomes more transparent.
Approaching a jazz artist when improvising introduces the creative artist, thinker and scholar to new, important perspectives.
Concept Elements:
Dimitrios Vassilakis presents the concept and introduces the key elements of Jazz Democracy. He refers to jazz as language and storytelling, and comments on its interaction with literature, poetry, and prose. He will also comment on how jazz has embraced different ethnic musics, referring to the concept elements below:
No discrimination or boundaries
In a jazz setting, whether in a live performance or a jam session, there is no discrimination whatsoever; artists are judged purely on merit. Here, there is room for further discussion of education, heritage, and experience.
Structured improvisation and creativity
Although it may seem like free play to most listeners, there is a strong, sometimes complex structure in jazz. A jazz player wishes to express himself creatively and tell a story within a given framework, while collaborating with other players under certain terms, mutual respect, and appreciation.
Truth, risk, arrow of time and value
There is no way to fake it during a jazz performance. Jazz players improvise in real time, so great players know how to turn mistakes or uninspired passages to their advantage and create something new, getting back into the right frame of mind. There is, thus, a considerable amount of risk that a jazz player has to take to make something of significance and artistic value.
Environment and response
Jazz is not performed in a void; interaction with the audience and fellow players is extremely important.
Hierarchy and opinion
Although one comes to listen to a band by a certain leading figure, all the other players – members of the ensemble, in turn, through their improvised solos, will be asked to comment on the tune, the mood, the language, the story, the style.
Freedom of expression
This might seem almost self-evident for jazz, but it still happens under certain rules in form/style.
Feedback and evaluation
Jazz musicians talk and evaluate what is happening in their art as it happens. There are many eras and styles in jazz; some musicians feel strongly about certain periods and modes of expression. This is an ongoing discussion that enriches the jazz language.
Dealing with differences in style and opinion
In the jazz world, there are differences and dislikes as in all art forms. However, players have to perform together even if they don’t agree on style/way the language is used. In a difficult setting, to play something creative, every player needs to sound good, adjust, and make everybody else in the ensemble sound good.
Jam session as an open forum
For the jazz player, who can come on stage and express their opinion on a given theme, this is sort of a small parliament, revealing the great strength and uniqueness of the jazz world.
Reflections on social issues, the role of jazz, and embracing different ethnicities and minorities
Social issues discussion in jazz started in the 60’s with “Freedom Now Suite We Insist!”, an album for the Historic Candid label that I am proud to be a recording artist on, and it remains as relevant today as it was then, with Black Lives Matter.
African roots
The main groove of jazz is what we call “swing,” and it has its roots in Africa and in the duality between the 2 subdivisions of rhythm: 2 and 3. “It doesn’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing”, as said by the great Duke Ellington. Relevant discussions on religion, political oppression, and apartheid will take place, drawing on the experience D. Vassilakis had during his visit to S. Africa and his collaboration with the legendary pianist and composer Abdullah Ibrahim.
Belonging, collaboration and responsibility in human interaction, jazz performance as a democratic model of being and action in a global society
Discussions on how Jazz Democracy fosters collective preparedness and the sense of belonging to develop a shared vision through culture, gender equality and shared values. During the COVID-19 pandemic, values such as equity, solidarity and collaboration have been recognised as central to resilience and essential to respond to future crises and difficult situations. The EU trio of presidencies (France, the Czech Republic, and Sweden) during the next 18 months will strive to find common solutions to challenges ahead by promoting European values on the global stage.