Louis Armstrong with Dave Brubeck
Brubeck, Gillespie, and most of their fellow jazz musicians were “unnerved by this attitude” of American towards jazz music throughout their careers.[1] Gillespie, in describing the situation, stated that other peoples “don’t make a moral issue out of it, as we (Americans) sometimes do. It’s of no mention to them that jazz was first played in the whore houses of New Orleans, that it was heard in prohibition speak-easies.”[2] Ultimately describing jazz as “too good for Americans,”[3] Gillespie noted that foreign audiences “did not make a racial issue out of jazz” and were attracted to the style “for its musical message, not its sociological implications.”[4] Boosting jazz’s position in society was also crucial to Brubeck, who felt that “jazz has been so completely overlooked” and requested “we exert all our influence to help throw off the onus of disrespect which has burdened jazz and the musicians who play it.”[5] Brubeck believed that jazz was truly “the most authentic example of American culture” and “the freest and most democratic form of expression.”[6] To make this point, Brubeck noted that when dictators took over countries, jazz was outlawed; when freedom returned to those countries jazz was returned.[7] To that end, Brubeck, as well as Gillespie, Armstrong, and others in their program would spend their influence and experiences to help promote and legitimize jazz in the United States for the remainder of their careers.
[1] Carlatta, “Those White Guys Are Working For Me.”
[2] Ibid.
[3] Gillespie and Fraser, To Be, or Not ... to Bop, 439.
[4] Carlatta, “Those White Guys Are Working For Me.”
[5] Crist, “Jazz As Democracy?” 140.
[6] Ibid., 158.
[7] Ibid.
Photo from http://www.meridian.org/jazzambassadors
[1] Carlatta, “Those White Guys Are Working For Me.”
[2] Ibid.
[3] Gillespie and Fraser, To Be, or Not ... to Bop, 439.
[4] Carlatta, “Those White Guys Are Working For Me.”
[5] Crist, “Jazz As Democracy?” 140.
[6] Ibid., 158.
[7] Ibid.
Photo from http://www.meridian.org/jazzambassadors