Universal music of freedom and creativity...

Seems that yesterday was UNESCO's "International Jazz Day" - a time set aside by the UN organization to honor the way jazz unlocks freedom and creativity throughout the world. (Ooops, as brother Hal reminded me, that would be TODAY: April 30th!) I would take that deeper and say that jazz also speaks to the unique movement of the Spirit of God in community. (check out the article in the new york times @ http:// www.nytimes.com/2012/04/30/arts/music/united-nations-tunes-up-for-first-international-jazz-day.html_

In Duke University's Div School's most recent journal,Willie James Jennings writes:

Churches could learn much from reflecting on a jazz band. Here are a group of people who work very hard at listening, yet give up nothing of themselves in that process, but in fact only gain a true sense of themselves in the common task of making music, producing sound that makes a central statement that exists only through the constitutive performances of each musician. …the many driving toward the one—the one sound, and the one ecstasy of playing well. … Musicians live and play in tight quarters, which is not only a matter of the given but also a matter of choice. They need closeness to hear. Would that Christians could grasp this basic truth of our witness: We don’t simply need each other, we need to be close together in order to truly hear the words we should be saying to the world and, equally important, to hear more clearly the voice of the world, in its pain, suffering, and longing.

Jazz musicians in the midst of playing often gesture toward new possibilities, making visible the reality of hope. It is a moment of transfiguration. As we watch them play it is as though an in-breaking has occurred and who we thought they were and we were gives way to a new revealing.

I know that when our various bands play too spread out, the music doesn't work as well as when we're on top of one another.  Jennings is right:  we NEED closeness - to hear, to feel and to make intuitive and creative choices that help the whole groove.  Being too independent and disconnected wrecks the music.

This Thursday, the Jazz Ambassadors are back at Patrick's Pub for our monthly soiree.  I've missed the last two gigs because of Lent and I can't wait to strap on the bass and go at it.  Been practicing, too - always important - and our buddy Rob Fisch is sitting in on trumpet.  So there will be some Miles for sure, some Herbie Hancock and Monk, too to say nothing of some crazy blues and who knows what else? 

I'm hoping we'll add "A Little Help from My Friends" just for kicks because it was just about a year ago that we left for Turkey.  So much has happened in that region - and is still taking place - that I want to stand in solidarity with freedom and peace makers as part of this jazz party.