Jazz and the Sense of Community

Yeah, I know, I said that I was going to talk about listening. I will. But something else struck me the other night.

Jazz establishes, in many ways, a rich and powerful sense of community. First, the music carries its own connections. To play "Satin Doll" is to think of Duke Ellington. And the music raises a shared wave of feeling in musicians and audience. The blues makes us all happier. Ballads hit our emotional side. And swinging is–swinging.

I get a vague feeling of kinship with people I will never know through intermediaries. I have been in sessions with Conti Milano and Ira Sullivan, both of whom played with Charlie Parker. Earlier, I mentioned the couple from Copenhagen who listen to our CD. One of my brothers and one of my students heard my name mentioned on a Chicago radio station (by Eddie–I wasn’t on what they were playing). I was on the song played on an Arkansas station (thanks to another brother).

And the music brings in friends and renews old ties. At the Mount Vernon Chocolate Stroll we played recently, Dallis Piccard talked with Pat Korzendorfer, a woman she worked with several years ago. Wes and Riella Rich showed up at the Coralville Marriott last week. They used to run the Fireside Grill in Kalona and had Eddie’s trio appear regularly. It is always a joy to see them.

Also at the Marriott, two of the women who worked for Eddie and Dallis in Club Jazz.  Eddie played for Heather's and Jeff's wedding.  Sarah sings with the Diplomats of Solid Sound and has gigs on her own around eastern Iowa.

Heather and Jeff Messer

Sarah Cram

And sometimes the music makes a strange and wonderful connection over time. Some years ago, I was in a jam session at the Piccard house where I met Jack (guitar) and Lisa Frost (bass). Jack asked if I knew the song "Marie."

Yes, I did. It was my mother’s theme song.