Jazz, individuality and the greater good...

In 20 minutes we leave for Cleveland.  Depending on who you talk to (and who is driving) that's 7-8 hours of pure road trip, yes?  Our goal is the HQ of the United Church of Christ, our struggling and once grand denomination born of Congregational creativity and Evangelical/ Reformed piety.  My traveling colleagues are all music mates and singers in our house band:  I love and trust them dearly.

Beyond my prayer that we arrive safely (never to be taken granted, yes?) my hope for this time includes:  linking with others in the United Church who know and love jazz as a way of doing liturgy.  As we talked about last night after band practice over drinks and dinner, there must always be a grounding in what is familiar and beautiful before venturing out to realms outside the box.  There must be a love and deep respect for the tradition, too before you risk reinventing it.  And, it is always done in the creative tension of community in support of individuality.

Jazz critic, Stanley Crouch, put it like this:

In all its styles, jazz involves some degree of collective ensemble improvisation, and in this it differs from Western music even at those times in its history when improvisation was required. The high degree of individuality, together with the mutual respect and cooperation required in a jazz ensemble carry with them philosophical implications that are so exciting and far-reaching that one almost hesitates to contemplate them. It is as if jazz were saying to us that not only is far greater individuality possible to man (sic) than he has so far allowed himself, but that such individuality, far from being a threat to a cooperative social structure, can actually enhance society.

I am down with that in spades and so.... we're off!