“Jazz is something you have to feel, something you have to live”(Ray Brown)

What makes jazz music so appealing to me as a traveler? Having experienced the musical “high” of performing as a jazz trombonist in both a big band and small combo setting in the past, jazz musical language now speaks to me as a prime motivator to explore the world around me. In traditional jazz, I think of the smoothly creative sounds of saxophonist, John Coltrane or the technical proficiency of trumpeter, Wynton Marsalis. In more modern times, guitarist Pat Metheny’s brilliant infusion of jazz with classical, rock, funk, and new age genres or Snarky Puppy’s diverse assemblage of multitalented musicians performing in intimate live settings equally attracts my attention here. 

The jazz medium connection to my travel  interest can be best explained by identifying those  musical elements which make jazz unique. In the two videos below, numerous examples of this “bag of jazz tricks” motivating my “wandering ways” vividly come to mind. Do you recognize them?

IMPROVISATIONAL SPIRIT

In jazz music, the solo performer freely explores his own interpretation of a recurring musical melody or theme within the confines of the musical chords provided. Feeling equally spontaneous on our Europe-based vacations, using a Eurail pass combined with a Paris Metro map in France has provided great flexibility in interpreting where my wife and I go next as the moment strikes us each day. The future focus of arriving at our destination thus feels secondary to the “now” enjoyment of moving from place to place each day.

EXTENDED NOTE RANGE

A jazz performer occasionally finds a challenging opportunity to test the limits of his ability by playing beyond the normal sound ranges of his/her musical instrument. In travel, my binoculars similarly serve as the primary outlet for extending my range of exploration in inaccessible locations. On the west coast of California, steep cliff overlooks, jagged rock formations, and pounding surf tides along the shoreline frequently prevent us from accessing beaches of interesting natural beauty. Yet a methodical scan of a such a remote beach with my binoculars of a tide pool inflow or hidden cave, have revealed to me a priceless look at a living ecosystem of marine sea life beyond my normal view.

GHOST CONDUCTOR

In jazz performance, one plays to the hidden beat felt by the music presented. In fact, on many occasions, the band plays on with no conductor on stage. Likewise, there have been times where WiFi, GPS service and map reference are useless along walking trails on our American roadtrip vacations in the remote locations in Nevada, Colorado, and Utah. We are thus in fact lost. In the absence of our directional conductor, then, reliance on our senses to look for obscure trail markings placed by previous trekkers have provided a successfully strategy for finding our way back to safe haven.

COLLECTIVE WILL

The success of a jazz performance by one musician in a band requires a commitment to hear how others are playing simultaneous to his/her efforts. A drummer, guitar and bass player may play “tight” together” to produce a pulsating harmonic vibe while a refreshing brassy interlude resonates the melody in coordinated tandem. In related fashion, we have wandered the world for a glimpse of such live performance unity of expression as a spectator of football, baseball, and more recently soccer sporting events. On our past London trip, I excitedly witnessed such “call and response” synergy at an English Premier League football match at Emirates Stadium. Notably, joyous Arsenal fans sang traditional hymns loudly throughout the stadium as Arsenal players respectfully nodded to the crowd entering the field. The chants intensified throughout the game as the home team responded by putting on an impressive scoring display to soundly defeat their overmatched opponent.

SYNCOPATION AND BLUE NOTES

Jazz players typically defy accepted rules of musical composition by reinterpreting traditional rules of rhythm and sound in unpredictable ways. Skipping the assigned beat, lessening or lengthening an audible note or making the sound slightly higher or lower makes jazz sound somewhat odd to the dance-pleasing eye. Yet such creative alterations to predetermined touring routes in travel have often come in handy. In medieval  “old towns” of Lisbon, London, and Venice…, for example, a challenging  walk taken through unmarked, crowded corridors  and narrow cobblestone streets frequently has required an irregular variance in course and direction from our more direct and unimpeded traveling norm.

GLOBAL OUTLOOK

One of the more enduring qualities of of jazz  relates to its cultural sensitivity to time/place. A nightly show performer might for instance freely incorporate Afro- Caribbean salsa, Mississippi Delta Blues or Asian Zen Mysticism as a plausible way to express his/her unique variation of a jazz tune “standard.”  In essence, then, jazz serves as a “world music”, offering unity of “humankind” throughout the world.  On our recent India tour last spring, we thus sought authentic spiritual settings there that inspired similar vibes of positive optimism.  We thus embraced with our “open” jazz mind, New Delhi street monuments and sculptures, portraying  the spiritual bonds of its many diverse cultures/religions coexisting in this overpopulated and poverty stricken city. 

Sources:

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Syncopation

https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/jazz1.htm

https://wyntonmarsalis.org/news/entry/music-what-jazz-is-and-isnt

https://www.pure.com/uk/blog/november-2016/the-5-best-jazz-songs-of-all-time

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Andre Gide

How does one’s curiosity to visit new places, cultures, and peoples mold leadership character? As an avid travel blogger, I recently sought American Presidential biographies to answer that perplexing question. Focusing on the extraordinary abilities of four U.S. Presidents in Doris Kearns Goodwin’s new novel, “Leadership in Turbulent Times.”, I learned that early exposures to travel shaped each man’s leadership style for achieving later success as President.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Born to desperate poverty in rural Kentucky, tall and gawky Abe sought refuge in reading books and telling stories. With little to read at home, he would walk for miles seeking something to read. In his one room school, he particularly enjoyed the travel adventures of Aesop’s Fables, Pilgrim’s Progress, and Robinson Crusoe. When Lincoln turned 21, he set out on his own for New Salem, Illinois, a bustling river town. Here he worked as a general store clerk, land surveyor, and flatboat captain, honing his genius for storytelling and ability to show plain spoken empathy with both friend/foe. Such communicative lessons would soon pay dividends for him as he wandered from town to town performing his duties as an Illinois lawyer and state representative. Clearly, his early adaptability to visit new places/people would impact him later as President in his resolve to heal the deep, sectional divisions about slavery during the American Civil War.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT

Born as a sickly child afflicted with asthma to a wealthy philanthropist family, Teddy learned quickly that his life success would not come easily. Foregoing the entitlement privileges of his social class status, he sought refuge in nature to help him breathe better and grow physically stronger. Always curious to learn new ideas on his long wanderings, he followed bird calls, collected new bug specimens… while showing no fear of “backwoods” dangers. Such childhood interest to challenge his physical/mental limits in the outdoor world would ultimately inspire him in adulthood to explore ranching in the remote Badlands of North Dakota, game hunting in Sub Saharan Africa, and river captaining in the Malaria- infested jungles of South America. As Teddy had thus boldly ventured into new lands for risky adventure, he would similarly strive boldly with progressive minded ideas to solve big business corruption, labor strike disturbance, and tenement housing poverty as a reform seeking President. “Speak softly and carry a big stick” would thus fittingly become his mainstay slogan in the political arena for the rest of his life.

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

As 5th cousin to Teddy, FDR shared the privileged Roosevelt name. Amidst the comforting presence of private tutor education and close family relationships, he experienced a happily contented childhood, at Hyde Park Estate, New York. Having free run to explore his own interests, he often tagged along on outdoor outings with his father, James. When the elder Roosevelt, became incapacitated by a heart attack, FDR began to spend more of his time inside the home. He soon took an intellectual interest in the world around him immersing his mind in new hobbies: reading maps, collecting coin/stamps collections and reading tales of the sea. As Teddy assumed his role as U.S. Presiden during this period, FDR then realized that his activist cousin would be a new role model of strong leadership in his life. Rising to editor of the college newspaper as a student at Harvard University, FDR would then urge students in opinion columns to engage distressed groups and individuals in finding impactful “real life” solutions to solve urban problems. Tragically contracting polio as his political career began to blossom, FDR sought hope for his debilitating condition in the healing power of sun and water. Seeking refuge in mineral water baths of Warm Spring, Georgia, he learned to empathize with the plight of the handicapped there who shared similar afflictions. Becoming America’s longest serving President, FDR’s past travel exposures had taught him some fundamental life lessons. Crisis management for a “New Deal” in our country to end the Great Depression would require a compassionate commitment to pass fair and equitable laws for serving the public will to the best of his abilities.

LYNDON B. JOHNSON

Raised on a small town ranch amidst the prairie frontier of Central Texas, LBJ frequently accompanied his father, State Representative Sam Johnson, in his “barnstorming ” tours throughout the state to secure votes for upcoming Congressional elections. As a precociously inquisitive child, LBJ enjoyed engaging in one-on- one chats with strangers he met then. With his father’s gregarious role model in mind, LBJ thus seemed poised to similarly enter the Texas political arena. Finding little opportunity for such political work during the Great Depression, however, he embarked on a career in education. Moving from the family ranch to become a debate teacher and later principal at impoverished schools along the Texas/ Mexican border would present a formidable challenge for LBJ, while providing ample opportunities for him to refine his powerful leadership skills. In a deeply segregated, mid 20th century America, LBJ would later learn as President to apply his genius for conversational persuasion with Congress to achieve Civil Rights/Voting Rights reform.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY’S PRESIDENCY

America cannot “wall itself in” to solve our country’s immigration problem. The enlightened leadership of four Presidents described in this blog point out that our current executive leader must look beyond his  trusting base and suffocating affluence to sell a winning deal for National Security in our country. Tweet less and visit the poor people. If the government shutdown to be safe means for him a test of wills, realize that many Americans (including your followers) now feel unsafe in his indifference. If I were him ,“Don’t Listen to What They Say.Go See” (Chinese Proverb)