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I.I. INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

I.2 I.2 (Mo Jan 27) (Mo Jan 27) What is free jazz?What is free jazz?The musical, social, and political origins of the The musical, social, and political origins of the movementmovement

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The name "The name "free jazzfree jazz" is the title of Ornette Coleman's LP recorded 1960 for " is the title of Ornette Coleman's LP recorded 1960 for Atlantis with a double quartet Atlantis with a double quartet

Musicians: Musicians: Ornette Coleman (as), Ornette Coleman (as), Eric Dolphy (bcl), Don Cherry (pockettp), Freddie Eric Dolphy (bcl), Don Cherry (pockettp), Freddie Hubbard (tp), Scott La Faro (b), Charlie Haden (b), Billy Higgins (ds) und Hubbard (tp), Scott La Faro (b), Charlie Haden (b), Billy Higgins (ds) und Ed Blackwell (ds)Ed Blackwell (ds)

Other names such as „New Thing“ Other names such as „New Thing“ „Cosa Nova“, „Nouvelle Gauche“, „Cosa Nova“, „Nouvelle Gauche“, „Out Music“, „Great Black Music“, „Out Music“, „Great Black Music“, „Energy Music“ etc. are known.„Energy Music“ etc. are known.

The famous citation of Coleman on The famous citation of Coleman on „Free jazz“: „Free jazz“: „Let's try to play the „Let's try to play the music and not the background.“music and not the background.“ PLAY PLAY beginning of „free jazz“.beginning of „free jazz“.

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Socio-political BackgroundSocio-political Background: :

Single event for the free jazz as a socio-political movement = „Single event for the free jazz as a socio-political movement = „October October revolutionrevolution“, early Oct. 1964, one week. At the small Cellar Café in NY's “, early Oct. 1964, one week. At the small Cellar Café in NY's West Ninety-Sixth Street. Initiated by trumpeter and jazz pedagogue West Ninety-Sixth Street. Initiated by trumpeter and jazz pedagogue Bill Bill DixonDixon. .

First time to hear Archie Shepp, Alber Ayler, Sun Ra, Milford Graves, First time to hear Archie Shepp, Alber Ayler, Sun Ra, Milford Graves, Giuseppe Logan. Dixon had founded the United Nations Jazz Society. He Giuseppe Logan. Dixon had founded the United Nations Jazz Society. He painted and taught art history. Worked with Shepp in NY Contemporary painted and taught art history. Worked with Shepp in NY Contemporary Five. After a discussion with CT he founded the Five. After a discussion with CT he founded the Jazz Composers GuildJazz Composers Guild, , with Shepp, Taylor, Dixon, Paul and Carla Bley, Mike Mantler, John with Shepp, Taylor, Dixon, Paul and Carla Bley, Mike Mantler, John Tchikai, Sun Ra, Roswell Rudd, with a CG-Orchestra four concerts in Dec. Tchikai, Sun Ra, Roswell Rudd, with a CG-Orchestra four concerts in Dec. 1964, on a weekly basis, at the Contemporary Center near Village 1964, on a weekly basis, at the Contemporary Center near Village Vanguard. Ideas of collective contracts and recording labeled, and institute. Vanguard. Ideas of collective contracts and recording labeled, and institute.

Shepp negotiated with Impulse on an ego basis, in order to survive (4 Shepp negotiated with Impulse on an ego basis, in order to survive (4 children), and the Guild was furious, etc. The idea was soon buried. (Robert children), and the Guild was furious, etc. The idea was soon buried. (Robert Levin „The Jazz Composers Guild—An Assertion of Dignity“. Down Beat Levin „The Jazz Composers Guild—An Assertion of Dignity“. Down Beat 6 May 1965)6 May 1965)

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Political DimensionsPolitical Dimensions:: cf. book cf. book Free Jazz Black PowerFree Jazz Black Power by Philippe Charles & Jean-Louis Comolli by Philippe Charles & Jean-Louis Comolli (10/18 Paris 1971)(10/18 Paris 1971)

Free jazz was intolerable, did litteraly hurt. Critic had become irrelevant, out Free jazz was intolerable, did litteraly hurt. Critic had become irrelevant, out of use. of use. Death of jazz, anti-jazzDeath of jazz, anti-jazz (see Down Beat discussion 1962 with John (see Down Beat discussion 1962 with John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy later).Coltrane and Eric Dolphy later).

Writer and poet Writer and poet LeRoi JonesLeRoi Jones started an intellectual shaping within the started an intellectual shaping within the national political movement: national political movement: Black PowerBlack Power, -> Black Studies at Universities, , -> Black Studies at Universities, stressing the pride and beauty of the black, not without a racist accent, book: stressing the pride and beauty of the black, not without a racist accent, book: Blues PeopleBlues People (NY 1963, Apollo). (NY 1963, Apollo).

Gives back to the black their music, the jazz, which was sold to the Gives back to the black their music, the jazz, which was sold to the white commerce, esthetics, and culture. white commerce, esthetics, and culture.

Shepp in recent interview maintains that jazz has been degraded to a label Shepp in recent interview maintains that jazz has been degraded to a label like Coca Cola. Free jazz was (according to Shepp) a liberation from these like Coca Cola. Free jazz was (according to Shepp) a liberation from these constraints.constraints.

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SheppShepp in Down Beat 1965: in Down Beat 1965: „„Jazz is one of the socially and esthetically most significant contributions of Jazz is one of the socially and esthetically most significant contributions of America. Some do accept it for what it is: A significant, deep contribution America. Some do accept it for what it is: A significant, deep contribution to America—it is against war; against Vietnam; for Cuba; for the liberation to America—it is against war; against Vietnam; for Cuba; for the liberation of the peoples of the world. This is the nature of jazz. Without having to of the peoples of the world. This is the nature of jazz. Without having to search very far. Why? Because search very far. Why? Because jazz is itself born from oppression, born jazz is itself born from oppression, born from the subjugation of my peoplefrom the subjugation of my people.“ .“

And And Ornette ColemanOrnette Coleman (A.B Spellman: Four Lives in the Bebop Business. (A.B Spellman: Four Lives in the Bebop Business. pantheon, NY 1966): „I am black and a jazzman. pantheon, NY 1966): „I am black and a jazzman. As a black and as a As a black and as a jazzman I feel miserablejazzman I feel miserable.“.“

The black were The black were politically organizedpolitically organized and active, and active, e.g. the Montgomery autobus strike 1965, the 1960 e.g. the Montgomery autobus strike 1965, the 1960 SNCC (Student Non Violent Coordination SNCC (Student Non Violent Coordination Committee) for black inscription in South States Committee) for black inscription in South States elections, Stokely Carmichael's 1966 Black Power elections, Stokely Carmichael's 1966 Black Power movement, movement, Malcom XMalcom X: Black Muslims around : Black Muslims around Eliah Muhammed (since 1932), Actions 1965, 1966 Eliah Muhammed (since 1932), Actions 1965, 1966 against the black ghettos: Harlem, Detroit, Watts.against the black ghettos: Harlem, Detroit, Watts.

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General socio-cultural positionGeneral socio-cultural position: :

Jazz music had been usurped, stolen by white intelligenzia. Jazz music had been usurped, stolen by white intelligenzia. Black Black musicians vs. white critics and theoristsmusicians vs. white critics and theorists. White parasites. . White parasites.

The (typically II-V sequences) chord changes, the blues scheme (3 x 4 The (typically II-V sequences) chord changes, the blues scheme (3 x 4 bars ) and song form (4 x 8 bars, AAB(ridge)A). Jazz theory and standard bars ) and song form (4 x 8 bars, AAB(ridge)A). Jazz theory and standard forms and instrumentation and role: rhythm section (piano, bass, drums) forms and instrumentation and role: rhythm section (piano, bass, drums) plus soloists (saxes, trumpets, singers).plus soloists (saxes, trumpets, singers).

Jazz was taken away from its creators, abused as bar music background and Jazz was taken away from its creators, abused as bar music background and also tamed and casted by the jazz theory. also tamed and casted by the jazz theory. Miles DavisMiles Davis: No more quarter : No more quarter notes, no more books, jazz (1972 to Joe Henderson). notes, no more books, jazz (1972 to Joe Henderson). You are fired if you go You are fired if you go on with jazz!on with jazz!

The factor of The factor of black beautyblack beauty, the rewriting of history which had been , the rewriting of history which had been „whitened“. Archie Shepp: „whitened“. Archie Shepp: „Jazz is singularly unique in that the people „Jazz is singularly unique in that the people who control it are thoroughly ignorant of it, know nothing about it.“who control it are thoroughly ignorant of it, know nothing about it.“

Blacks who were tamed = niggers, the „Blacks who were tamed = niggers, the „blacks of the whiteblacks of the white“.“.

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LeRoi Jones LeRoi Jones initiated an intellectual reshaping of the cultural theory initiated an intellectual reshaping of the cultural theory of jazz within the framework of Black Studies at US of jazz within the framework of Black Studies at US universities, stressing the pride and beauty of the black, universities, stressing the pride and beauty of the black, as described in his book as described in his book „Blues People“ (1963)„Blues People“ (1963)..

Within the US socio-political movements, LeRoi Jones, Within the US socio-political movements, LeRoi Jones, now aka now aka Amiri BarakaAmiri Baraka, and the Cultural Nationalism , and the Cultural Nationalism (United Brothers in Newark, lead by (United Brothers in Newark, lead by Stokely CarmichaelStokely Carmichael et al.) is contradicted by the overtly political (socialist, et al.) is contradicted by the overtly political (socialist, communist, class struggle) movement of the communist, class struggle) movement of the Black Panther Black Panther Party (BPP)Party (BPP). .

Carmichael: Carmichael: „What counts in our struggle is the „What counts in our struggle is the culture.“culture.“

BPP: BPP: „The power is at the end of a sashiki.“„The power is at the end of a sashiki.“(swaheil for long african shirt) (swaheil for long african shirt)

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DVDDVD: Imagine the Sound. + discusssion!: Imagine the Sound. + discusssion!