All That Jazz
Edgar recently performed a benefit concert with special guests Ruth Naomi Floyd, Joe Salzano, and Grammy-Award winner John Patitucci on behalf of Chesterton House, a center for Christian studies located on the campus of Cornell University. The resulting live CD recording, entitled Heaven in a Nightclub, is now available for sale.
“The best music tells a story, and that’s what jazz does,” said Karl Johnson, founding director of the Chesterton House. “It captures a certain feeling and history within African-American culture—there’s an acknowledgement of real pain and suffering, combined with a longing and yearning for hope fulfilled.”
Concertgoers were blown away by the live performance in May, said Johnson. “Every person I spoke with said they wished they’d brought others with them.”
The attendees were moved by the caliber of the musicians who performed, and the music itself. “Good music glorifies God by its architecture in sound, its craft, its combination of sober realism and hope,” says Edgar.
And jazz? “Christians should love jazz for the same reason they should love Bach, Brahms, Stravinsky, and Big Bill Broonzy—good music is God’s provision in sound for an atmosphere which generates life,” said Edgar.
To listen to sample audio clips or to order Heaven in a Nightclub, visit www.chestertonhouse.org.
Comments
Kim Dale
Tamborine Mountain, Australia
Thanks for your observation...I like beer, porkskins, jazz, wine, country (some) and am glad that the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking...
Eric
Cincinnati, OH
Narrative- Jazz is usually thematic, so yes, narrative is possible. Just like classical et al.
Karl Johnson
Ithaca, NY
(This is not to say that the valuing of narrative structure is value neutral, as it distinguishes both jazz and country on the one hand from say the circularity of New Age music on the other.)
Bill Lamkin
Panama City, FL
why is Jazz more "sophisticated"? It's because it's not associated as negatively as other musical forms.
It's a nice enough art form, but music without a message is merely orchestrated noise.
Jazz is as much a narrative as any other genre. The key is the message.
Bill Lamkin
Panama City
I appreciate your clarity on the 'narrative' form of jazz. But can't we say that most contemporary music forms do the same?
How does jazz as an instrumental form tell a story unless there are accompanying lyrics? If we are talking about the musical form, then aren't we talking about the instrumentality rather than the words?
for instance, "I got a woman" by Ray Charles tells the story of a man who's very glad to have a girlfriend. If we take out the words, we can't have a story can we? Similarly, "Holier than Thou" by Metallica tells the story of those who are disgusted by self-righteous folks who harshly others. If we take out the lyrics, we just have orchestrated instrumentation.
Both are narratives. But, both hardly have the same audiences.
I would contend that all music genres (with lyrics) are narrative. The greater question, then, is what's the story being told?
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Bill Lamnkin
Panama City, FL
Jazz is a musical preference - just like Baroque, Country or Heavy Metal. To imply that Jazz is a more 'Christian' form of music is to simply elevate one's cultural preference above all others.
I am reminded of hearing a minister declare that a 'guitar in worship is sinful.' Not really, it's a preference of circumstances.
I'm glad that some like Jazz, wine and cheese. But, I happen to minister those who like Country, beer and pork skins.