The Importance of Community in the Arts, Music and Jazz
Something that I think about a lot is what community means to me and how it has shaped who I am as a musician and artist. My personal way into music, and jazz specifically, was regularly attending local gigs, at least once or twice a week at Dempsey’s (Cardiff) from around the age of fourteen or fifteen, and ever since, regardless of where I’ve lived, this has always been a priority for me, not really from a place of feeling like I have to or should, but from a genuine place of curiosity, love for the music, and really appreciating the community aspect that comes with this. It’s also led me to meet so many different people with whom I have long-lasting, fulfilling musical and non-musical relationships to this day.
Music of the Americas and jazz music at its core is community music. Whether it’s coming from a place of oppression or celebration, the fundamental element is what I believe to be the aspect of community. Coming more so from a place of opression and in regards to talking more specifically about the enslavement of African people to be brought to America, blues music came from the expression of celebration from freed African Americans. During the periods of Reconstruction and Jim Crow, black people moved from the South to northern cities and the music came from the newfound communities that were set up. Another example is that of music of Latin America, its syncretic nature and how combining different communities has contributed to its musical heritage. In Brazil, the ‘Roda de Samba’ (literally meaning a samba circle), is when musicians sit in a circle and take turns leading a song, while the audience sings, dances and claps along. This inclusive and festive experience celebrates the spirit of samba through traditional instruments and a lively, communal atmosphere. As a disclaimer, this is a hugely summarised overview and small snapshot of the history of community in the music of the Americas and jazz. I’d highly advise researching into it more and having open discussions about the history and culture of this music in particular.
Not just in music, but in the arts in general, most, if not all iconic movements have stemmed from what was happening culturally, politically, and economically in that period and how it affected local communities, influencing how people express themselves through their art. For example, in visual art, Impressionism was a way to challenge artistic and political authority. It sought to liberate artistic expression from the constraints of academic tradition and create an art form that reflected the changing modern world in France. Impressionism offered a forward-looking alternative to the past by focussing on light, colour, and the ever-changing nature of perception. Another example is the Punk movement during the 1970s in New York and the United Kingdom and how it was built on the concept of anti-establishment, anti-capitalism, and anti-authoritarianism.
Jazz music, and its constantly evolving nature, is so heavily rooted in community, culture, and politics. Again, this is something that deserves more than a short paragraph written about, and there are so many excellent resources out there for this which I encourage anyone who is interested in this music to utilise, but for the purpose of this post, I’ll keep it brief. The musicians who we look up to were constantly learning and growing from their peers. For example, Coltrane, Sonny (Rollins), Dexter, and Wayne were perfect examples of musicians who were constantly bouncing off each other and using each other as direct inspiration and influence. For me, this only reiterates the importance of community in order to facilitate musical growth and exploration. Also whislt we as musicians work on our own individual practice, sound and concept, the end goal is to use it in a way where we can communicate with other musicians in a collective setting.
Coming back to my own personal experience, I’ve gained immensely from actively integrating myself into various different musical communities, and it’s something that I’m incredibly grateful for. Some of the most important lessons for me have come from hanging out until 5 a.m. and talking about music and life; these are the situations that I feel really make me grow the most and push me to reach new ground. Whether it’s been in Cardiff, London, Amsterdam, or New York, I’ve always been curious and excited to meet and be part of the community that all these places have had to offer, and the results are often incredible, beautiful, and fulfilling.
Conversely, in all of these places, and I think perhaps this applies more to an educational environment, I’ve witnessed many students and musicians not showing up and integrating within their local communities, and often or not these are the people that perhaps stay somewhat stagnant and often have complaints of not feeling fullfilled. I understand that there are different personality types and the aspect of being extroverted vs introverted; however, I do believe that there’s space for all different personalities, it’s more a matter of want, understanding and curiosity. Another aspect I’ve been thinking about recently and something I’ve actually only come to understand on a somewhat deeper level is that you don’t always have to resonate with everyone within your direct community, and that’s fine, but I think it’s really important to find the people who you can relate to, who inspire you, who you align with but who can also challenge you. Also, this can take time and is not always an easy and linear journey, but going in with the right motivations and remaining sincere and honest to yourself is something that I’ve found helpful.
When life gets challenging, the one thing I’m always so appreciative of is the community around me and how much we can learn from others. This is why I think, as an artist, musician, and human being, it’s so important to show up, be open-minded, and enter social situations with a level of modesty (although it’s important to recognise one’s worth) and unpretentiousness in order for us to grow as people and artists. For me this helps me understand the core value of what community means and how essential it is.
