Jazz and Resistance unite for Palestine

[Lois Gilbert]

Jazz and Resistance unite for Palestine
By Mamoon Alabbasi – LONDON
Middle East On Line

Gilad Atzmon, Martin Smith present a jazz culture evening with theme of anti-racism, justice for Palestine.

Britain’s Respect party organsied Monday a ‘night of live music and spoken words’ in London, where giant Israeli-born jazz artist Gilad Atzmon and jazz author Martin Smith coordinated to perform a spectacular show entitled ‘Jazz, Racism and Resistance.’

The show was meant to symbolise the strong link between jazz music and the struggle for justice, whether present in the civil rights movement’s fight against segregation or in the current fight for the rights of the Palestinian people.

The evening started by an introductory speech on the background to the civil rights movement in the United States, given by Martin Smith, author of John Coltrane: Jazz, Racism and Resistance.

With pictures of the suffering that the Black community had to undergo in the American south projected in the background, Smith gave shocking examples of the inhumanity of racism during that era, explaining the rise of the civil rights’ campaign with the parallel development of jazz music.

After highlighting the exceptional legacy of the jazz musician Coltrane, and reciting poetry to the background of Atzmon’s soft tunes, Smith concluded by arguing that jazz has always carried an encoded message - which is demanding respect and justice - and continues to carry that message regardless of time and space.

Atzmon took the floor with the words, “My personal Alabama is Palestine,” in a comparison between the struggle of the African American community during their suffering that included torture and lynching and the not so different treatment (if not much worse) that the people of Palestine have to endure under Israeli occupation.

His first song, entitled “Liberating the American People,” accordingly dedicated to the Americans, captured the full attention of a breathless audience that could not help but strongly applaud the mixture of the beauty of the music with the energy-draining effort to produce such a moving piece.

Also during his performance, there was a display of pictures portraying Palestinian women and children in distress amid the rubble of destroyed houses, as well as pictures of jazz artists, signaling a united cause that uses jazz to defend all oppressed people.

In an astonishing act of playing two saxophones at the same time, Atzmon reinforces the strong visual presence of his show, in addition to music, whereby his charisma is felt without the need for him to even speak.

After achieving comparatively stunning success and favourable reviews for his albums MusiK and Exile, Atzmon is currently promoting his latest album Artie Fishel and the Promised Band, a mixture of satire and comedy embedded within the music.

Appearing as a guest performer on the show, singer Dafar Yusuf made a vocal contribution during one of Atzmon’s songs.

Yusuf’s strong vocal expressions could be seen as an example of an outcry understood by all humanity; since there was no particular language used other than sounds depicting universally understood suffering.

The presence of Atzmon’s band was also strongly felt during the performance; Whether Frank Harrison playing piano, Yaron Stavi playing bass, or Asaf Sirkis playing drums, the effect of their own music had put them in a state of trance in more than one occasion.

The mood of some of the audience appeared to be in a mixture of pleasure and pain; the sad or angry tones would remind us of the suffering of the Palestinian people (some of which were projected into the background) without undermining the sheer appreciation or enjoyment of that fine music.

Though it is often perceived as a career suicide for artists to mix their work with political views, Atzmon’s indifference to that threat is party based on, in addition to his spirit of sacrifice, the fact that his music will stand the test on its own – beautiful enough to capture the admiration of jazz lovers regardless of their moral conscience.

I dare add that his music could very well charm his political critics, conquering the hearts of the heartless.

On the whole, the general atmosphere of the event could be seen as a successful case of multiculturalism, of some sort.

Over a hundred people packed in the upper floor of Halaliano restaurant where you are received by staff members from Baghdad to Barcelona welcoming you with warm smiles.

Sunk in cozy sofas, Arabs and Israelis unite against injustice and as you overhear foreign accents as well various regional British accents, you no longer distinguish between Jews, Christians, Muslims, or non-believers (in the monolithic faiths) in the human struggle for justice for the people of Palestine.

Scheduled to be present at the event, but could not show up, was popular Respect MP George Galloway, who was held up by a Parliamentary meeting related to the Iraq war.

Being a spearhead champion for justice, his outspoken presence would have added an irreplaceable flavour to the evening.

Present at the show, was prominent writer, editor and activist Ramzy Baroud, who shared Atzmon’s sense of exile.

“I listened to the remarkable musician while wrangling with my own issues; living in exile, cannot return home, a Palestinian without a passport, an American, often demonized for my antiwar stances,” said Baroud.

“For a few hours listening to the music of this man, playing the saxophone, improvising with a wowing mixture of jazz and Middle Eastern tunes, one was able, even for a fleeting moment to come to term with exile and his own out of placeness,” he added.

Baroud concluded, “Atzmon is an extraordinary musician by any standard, but to understand his music even better one must familiarize himself with his writing, his ideas and his life. As idealistic as this may sound, listening to Atzmon made me feel for a moment that a just peace and coexistence in Palestine is possible, very much so.”

As Atzmon and his band made their way out into the street, carrying some of their musical instruments, walking in a humble manner, I could not help but wonder - are they carrying mere musical instruments?

For a minute or two, in my mind, those instruments could have transformed into bows and arrows of Robin Hood and his clan, rifles of freedom fighters fighting for liberation, banners of slogans demanding justice somewhere, crucifixes to redeem the sins of Israel, or just a heavy load that should be on the conscience of humanity.

http://peacepalestine.blogspot.com/

[John P. Cooper]

fascinating propaganda....extremely florrid and lofty...good work for an 8th grader

[guy]

Atzmon is quite an anti-Semite -- it's interesting that these guys want to associate with him.

quote:

American Jewry makes any debate on whether the 'Protocols of the elder of Zion' are an authentic document or rather a forgery irrelevant. American Jews (in fact Zionists) do control the world..

Guy

[John P. Cooper]

So much quotable tripe...

Jazz and Resistance unite for Palestine
By Mamoon Alabbasi – LONDON
Middle East On Line

Gilad Atzmon, Martin Smith present a jazz culture evening with theme of anti-racism, justice for Palestine.

a spectacular show entitled ‘Jazz, Racism and Resistance.’


jazz has always carried an encoded message

“My personal Alabama is Palestine”

His first song, entitled “Liberating the American People,” accordingly dedicated to the Americans

there was a display of pictures portraying Palestinian women and children in distress amid the rubble of destroyed houses

Atzmon is currently promoting his latest album Artie Fishel and the Promised Band, a mixture of satire and comedy embedded within the music.

the effect of their own music had put them in a state of trance in more than one occasion.

The mood of some of the audience appeared to be in a mixture of pleasure and pain


I dare add that his music could very well charm his political critics, conquering the hearts of the heartless.

the general atmosphere of the event could be seen as a successful case of multiculturalism, of some sort.


Sunk in cozy sofas, Arabs and Israelis unite against injustice

As Atzmon and his band made their way out into the street, carrying some of their musical instruments, walking in a humble manner, I could not help but wonder - are they carrying mere musical instruments?

those instruments could have transformed into bows and arrows of Robin Hood and his clan, rifles of freedom fighters fighting for liberation, banners of slogans demanding justice somewhere, crucifixes to redeem the sins of Israel, or just a heavy load that should be on the conscience of humanity.

http://peacepalestine.blogspot.com/

[Dennis Gonzalez]

It's quite funny to see you guys get all beside yourselves about Gilad. Hate to burst the bubble, but Gilad is not an anti-Semite...anti-Zionist? Yes. Racist anti-Semite? Nah.

He believes in peace, and these days that's a hard concept for some to wrap their minds around.

My sons are good friends with a few anti-Zionist punk groups, and when they tried to ask about these issues of anti-Zionism with one of their most admired Israeli jazz musicians, he bristled and raised his hackles just like I see in this thread, and demeaned them for bringing it up.

Go here and see what Atzmon actually says about his birth country and his people. He says much of the same stuff I said about my home country when our Chief Executive decided to invade Iraq and those of you who are now opposed to this war, shifting with the winds of political expediency, were gung ho about nukin' them Eye-racki turr'ists.

Only thing wrong I see with the article is the writer and not his subject.

[guy]

Originally Posted by Dennis Gonzalez

It's quite funny to see you guys get all beside yourselves about Gilad. Hate to burst the bubble, but Gilad is not an anti-Semite...anti-Zionist? Yes. Racist anti-Semite? Nah.

Sorry Dennis, but what I quoted from Atzmon is classic anti-Semitism. ("The Jews control America", etc) There's no way of getting around that.

He's also a fan of the even more extreme anti-Semite Israel Shamir.

Guy

[groover]

Jesus, it would appear, is considered by Jewish spiritual leaders as the embodiment of all evil. I ask myself if Jesus was as bad as Hitler (in the eyes of the rabbis), why is it that the Jews are so offended when blamed for killing him? Why don't they regard his killing as the most glamorous chapter of their history?

Where did Gilad get this impression from? Seems a bit mental to me.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Originally Posted by guy

Sorry Dennis, but what I quoted from Atzmon is classic anti-Semitism. ("The Jews control America", etc) There's no way of getting around that.

He's also a fan of the even more extreme anti-Semite Israel Shamir.

Guy

Cool...It really is kinda fun to have jazzers who are so political, and unafraid to be so. Even if they are out in left field. Though I doubt he's ever caused the death of the people he rails against, unlike our president, whose cause countless deaths of those he rails against and even those who are innocent. Atzmon really gets people beside themselves, you must admit.

I think his reasoning on the "Jews control America" line is that our Middle Eastern foreign policy is based on our unwavering support of Israel, through right or wrong, excatly the point of the anti-Zionists I know.

I'd rather focus on his music. Have you heard him play?

[groover]

Originally Posted by Dennis Gonzalez

I'd rather focus on his music. Have you heard him play?

Even though I disagree with his political stance, his music sounds intriguing from what I've read. Haven't actually heard it yet, though.

[guy]

Originally Posted by Dennis Gonzalez

Cool...It really is kinda fun to have jazzers who are so political, and unafraid to be so. Even if they are out in left field. Though I doubt he's ever caused the death of the people he rails against, unlike our president, whose cause countless deaths of those he rails against and even those who are innocent. Atzmon really gets people beside themselves, you must admit.

I think his reasoning on the "Jews control America" line is that our Middle Eastern foreign policy is based on our unwavering support of Israel, through right or wrong, excatly the point of the anti-Zionists I know.

Nobody wondered about Michael Richards's "reasoning" during his recent racist rant and I don't think we should do it in this context either.

I'd rather focus on his music. Have you heard him play?

Sorry, I avoid the music of known living bigots, racists and anti-Semites.

I realize my tone here is somewhat antagonistic -- I hope it's clear that none of that is aimed at you, Dennis.

Guy

[groover]

O.J. was still a great running back, so Gilad may be an interesting player from a technical perspective, Guy.

However, I'm not sure if I could bring myself to purchase his album, since that might be seen as a validation of his views.

[Noj]

I'd like to see "resistance" take the form of resisting violence, from Palestinian and Israeli alike.

[guy]

Originally Posted by Noj

I'd like to see "resistance" take the form of resisting violence, from Palestinian and Israeli alike.

From the article:

Originally Posted by article

For a minute or two, in my mind, those instruments could have transformed into bows and arrows of Robin Hood and his clan, rifles of freedom fighters fighting for liberation,...

http://peacepalestine.blogspot.com/

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Originally Posted by guy

Nobody wondered about Michael Richards's "reasoning" during his recent racist rant and I don't think we should do it in this context either.



Sorry, I avoid the music of known living bigots, racists and anti-Semites.

I realize my tone here is somewhat antagonistic -- I hope it's clear that none of that is aimed at you, Dennis.

Guy

It's actually nice to be able to speak my mind and then you speak your mind, and John,Noj, and groover as well...and we're still civil. I see your viewpoint and appreciate it. I have a different insight into what Gilad possibly could mean, but I may not be right. The important thing that is shown here is that we're all "listening" and expressing. This is actually uplifting and a change of tact, since so many here taunt each other and abuse each others' humanity and private lives in negative responses.

It's a bit enlightening to hear these other viewpoints. It means I'm still learning.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Originally Posted by Noj

I'd like to see "resistance" take the form of resisting violence, from Palestinian and Israeli alike.

What a beautiful and hopeful statement.

[Gentle Giant]

I'm having a hard time with the analogy to the Civil Rights movement.

But yeah, I'd rather see an Israeli and a Palestinian jam together than shoot at each other.

[walto]

You know I love you, Dennis, and I don't generally care what this or that artist's political views are. Makes no difference to my enjoyment, or even, usually, what I'll buy. I love Wagner's Ring, e.g.

But, that said, I personally would have trouble participating in overtly political events with somebody who'd made those statements. I could play music with him, but not at a gig intended as some sort of "statement" thingy ostensibly furthering his cause. As Guy has implied above, if those statements aren't anti-semitic, there's probably never been an anti-semitic statement ever made.

Of course, your mileage may vary.

[Clay Fink]

"The Jews Control America" is a classic anti-Semitic statement. You hear from the left and right; from black nationalists to "The Turner Diary", black helicopter types. If someone said that and all they really meant was "the United States’ current policy toward Israel is one-sided, practically guarantees permanent conflict and, in the end, makes world Jewry less safe” then the hyperbole in the voiced statement would still make me question whether or not they were actually anti-Semitic and really didn’t mean what they thought they meant. Judging from this guy’s name it sounds like he’s Jewish himself. His stridency makes me wonder if he has some “issues”. Jewish mothers can sometimes do that to their sons. I am impressed, though, that he played two saxophones at once – I’ve never heard of anyone ever doing that before. Kenny G (speaking of guys with “issues”) can hold one note for like a minute. I think that is so cool.

The sad thing is that some people who say that they stand for “Justice” and “Peace” can be just as hateful, stupid and destructive as the people who explicitly call for violence. So this guy may just be an example of the flipside of the neo-con, Likudnik, xian nexus that seems to be running the show in the US and Israel.

All that said, the Jews DO control America. My wife is a Jew and she tells me so. She’s got a cabal meeting tonight while I’m out at my book club.

[walto]

Clay, you don't know RRK?!?

[groover]

Originally Posted by Noj

I'd like to see "resistance" take the form of resisting violence, from Palestinian and Israeli alike.

Admirable sentiment, Noj, but easier said than done. If someone hurls a rock or a rocket at me, my first instinct is to do unto others as they have done unto me. How would you respond if your home was being shelled?

The problem I have with Gilad's stance is that it's a slippery slope from sympathizing with the Palestinian's desire to regain their lost territory, mostly lost in fights they instigated, to condoning the murder of Israeli civilians, of which he was once one.

However, to the extent that his music is a sincerely peaceful expression, it may have merit.

There's no doubt that some Jews and Jewish groups are influential in America, but control of America by Jews, much less the world, is a hateful paranoid delusion.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Originally Posted by walto

You know I love you, Dennis, and I don't generally care what this or that artist's political views are. Makes no difference to my enjoyment, or even, usually, what I'll buy. I love Wagner's Ring, e.g.

But, that said, I personally would have trouble participating in overtly political events with somebody who'd made those statements. I could play music with him, but not at a gig intended as some sort of "statement" thingy ostensibly furthering his cause. As Guy has implied above, if those statements aren't anti-semitic, there's probably never been an anti-semitic statement ever made.

Of course, your mileage may vary.

Thank you for your statement of affection. Some days we really need those, ya know?

I understand the sentiment and thought behind what the majority of the comments on this thread are saying. My thing is that Atzmon is getting attention, lots of it, by the provocative statements he makes. He's getting his point across, right or wrong. The reason? People become very reactionary when confronted with certain combinations of words...me included. I personally believe that there is a real reason why he would choose to phrase things the way he does, and I really think the "average" (not as in "average" mentality) reader has no inkling as to why he would choose to perfrom the actions he does and speak as he does. Most of us choose to place a label on what someone is saying, and then that's all there is to it.

Something happened in Gilad Atzmon's life, as it did in bin Laden's life, in Dubya's life, in Shimon Peres's life, in Sub-Comandante Marcos's life that many of us will never understand, that has caused these people to take the radical stances they do, and if we don't stop and look clearly, instead of speaking back in a judgemental way all the time, we will never understand the things we need to understand in order to survive the coming world.

The reactionism this country went through when the immigration thing came up is a rich example. During all the posturing and conjecture, I had a particular exchange with one of my JC colleagues. His idea was that the "illegals" are undermining the whole societal structure of the U.S. and we just gotta do something about it now. My theory was that this sort of crossing of borders has happened since the time when humans first established "ownership" and "citizenship"...when humans first drew that imaginary line, and that it will happen as long as humans continue to divide themselves into states. I was like: "Don't sweat it dude, there are many more important things to worry about." And sure enough, where is the debate now? All but disappeared!

[Clay Fink]

Originally Posted by walto

Clay, you don't know RRK?!?

No. Never heard of the guy. He doesn't look Jewish.

[Paul B]

Politics and music have nothing to do with each other and have no business being mingled. Music does not "express" political ideas, nor should it be used as a tool to further a cause. No matter how good this guy is I wouldn't bother listening to him, not because I agree or disagree with his political ideas, but because he imposed them on his music--and his listeners--in the first place.

[Noj]

Originally Posted by groover

Admirable sentiment, Noj, but easier said than done. If someone hurls a rock or a rocket at me, my first instinct is to do unto others as they have done unto me. How would you respond if your home was being shelled?

This is exactly why it will never stop. Both sides feel justified and righteous as they attack each other. Two wrongs make a right in their eyes. Who exactly provokes who depends who you ask.

[John P. Cooper]

Originally Posted by Dennis Gonzalez

The reactionism this country went through when the immigration thing came up is a rich example. During all the posturing and conjecture, I had a particular exchange with one of my JC colleagues. His idea was that the "illegals" are undermining the whole societal structure of the U.S. and we just gotta do something about it now. My theory was that this sort of crossing of borders has happened since the time when humans first established "ownership" and "citizenship"...when humans first drew that imaginary line, and that it will happen as long as humans continue to divide themselves into states. I was like: "Don't sweat it dude, there are many more important things to worry about." And sure enough, where is the debate now? All but disappeared!

"Reactionism"?

If the debate is over it is only because people have stopped debating what many people now agree upon.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Originally Posted by Paul B

Politics and music have nothing to do with each other and have no business being mingled. .

That's funny. Tell that to those who first started playing jazz in the hovels of New Orleans, and countless other musicians who have made politics an intrinsic part of the music.

I could just as easily tell you, "Paul, your life and politics have nothing to do with each other."

Tell that to my sons, whose whole basis for starting a punk band was politics. Tell that to The Last Poets, and to Funkadelics...Hell, tell it to the members of The Art Ensemble of Chicago, to Roy Campbell, to Dave Douglas, to Archie Shepp.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Originally Posted by John P. Cooper

"Reactionism"?

If the debate is over it is only because people have stopped debating what many people now agree upon.

See what I mean? Who told you that "many" people agree upon this issue? That's a reaction without basis. That's what reactionism is.
What does "many" mean? Back up your statement with figures and proof, and then I'll grant that it isn't reactionary.

[Paul B]

Originally Posted by Dennis Gonzalez

That's funny. Tell that to those who first started playing jazz in the hovels of New Orleans, and countless other musicians who have made politics an intrinsic part of the music.

I could just as easily tell you, "Paul, your life and politics have nothing to do with each other."

Tell that to my sons, whose whole basis for starting a punk band was politics. Tell that to The Last Poets, and to Funkadelics...Hell, tell it to the members of The Art Ensemble of Chicago, to Roy Campbell, to Dave Douglas, to Archie Shepp.

Right. But the bottom line is, the music has to stand up on its own without the props. That's not likely to happen if the player is trying to make a "statement" instead of trying to make music that the listener can interpret his/her own way. Furthermore, I don't imagine that Louis Armstrong took up the trumpet because he wanted to make a political statement; he took it up because he wanted to make music with it. It gave him joy, it gave others joy. Even Coltrane didn't want his music pigeonholed to fit the political agendas of the day, agendas that were not his (just listen to that painful interview with Frank Kofsky). Anyway, I play music for its own sake, not for some ulterior motive, and I can't fathom somebody whose primary reason for being a musician is politics or some other extra-musical agenda. I guess they must exist, but I'm not interested.

Bye-ya

[Clay Fink]

Originally Posted by Paul B

Politics and music have nothing to do with each other and have no business being mingled. Music does not "express" political ideas, nor should it be used as a tool to further a cause. No matter how good this guy is I wouldn't bother listening to him, not because I agree or disagree with his political ideas, but because he imposed them on his music--and his listeners--in the first place.

People have mixed art and politics since people have been making art. That's as true for music - especially since the 19th Century - as it is for literature or poetry. Beethoven, Chopin and no doubt may others are early examples of "art music" that had political content or influence (there are many other examples, I'm sure). Examples form the 20th century are almost countless; Shostakovich, Rzewski, Crumb, Max Roach, Ellington, Mingus. Folk music going back to the beginning of time, al least judging from the earliest recorded examples from the 20th century, was inspired by the events of the day. What does art "do" other than act as a means of expression? Sure there's crappy politically inspired music. So what? Where's this rule that art and politics can't be mixed? Practioners of various forms of expression have been breaking this rule for ages.

[Paul B]

Of course they are occasionally mixed; politics is an unavoidable part of life. But no great musician got into music to make a political statement. You can read politics into anything you want, from Beethoven to Coltrane, but you can be assured that politics was not foremost on the minds of these artists when they created their work. They worked to create great, expressive, powerful music. The fact that Beethoven was essentially an employee of the court, or that Coltrane lived in an age of nascent black power and civil rights, doesn't mean their musics are inherently political or tied to the politics of their age. The music transcends it, which is why we can listen to it over the ages.

I'm wary of a person--to take the subject of the thread--who seems more interested in the politics than in the music. He should put his horn away and write an op-ed if it's that important to him. Or simply make music that inspires people. They'll deal with the rest--the politics, the sociology--on their on terms and in their own way.