Spirituality and Jazz

[Lois Gilbert]

EXPRESS: Are you willing to discuss your Music in terms of your spiritual life?

SUTTON: Certainly. My Music is all about my spiritual life — and vice versa. Somehow this question has just started to pop up. In Italy the blurb about the band in the Umbria brochure spoke of my spiritual approach in the very first sentence. Although this is my aspiration, I have never advertised my spiritual beliefs, but I guess people want to know. I am a member of the Baha’i faith, as is James Moody and as was Dizzy Gillespie. The core of our belief system is the oneness of mankind and finding paths toward greater unity in diversity in the world. This is a perfect metaphor for the band’s arranging philosophy and the Baha’i principles have profoundly impacted our process. I am the only Baha’i in the band and that is, of course, just fine with me — it’s about uniting all and finding harmony and equality of voices and approaches.


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If you can get a hold of Taylor Atkins. “Sacred Swing: The Sacralizaiton of Jazz in American Bahá’i Community” 2006, 24(4) http://am.press.uiuc.edu/24/4/atkins.html, you will discover a number of other jazz artists with Baha’i connections


http://www.leithjb.net/blog/2007/07/...oach-to-music/




Reading this except from a blog made me think about how intergrated one's spirituality is conveyed in Jazz, perhaps more than any other genre of music... from Ellington and Mary Lou Williams to Cuban musicians in their practice of Yoruba religion to Trane.

It's not always overt, but certainly in interviews, spirtuality/religion often comes up with jazz musicians

One of my questions is this:
If a musician is overt about their spirituality whether in their music or in involvement in their "church" or "religion" does it suade your view of that musician?

[Gary Sisco]

It doesn't change my views on the music, no. I'm a stone atheist but I love to hear great gospel music, for example. Music is music. If it's great music, I'll listen to it.

I have a secondary interest in santeria rhythms and music.

And of course much of reggae speaks about spiritual matters.

It doesn't matter to me what people believe so long as I remain unaffected by it (that is, so long as it's not used as a form of power).

[Tom Storer]

My knowledge of a musician's spiritual aspirations or outlook doesn't change how I listen to the music. In my experience a spiritual motivation on the part of the musician can lead to great intensity and passion--or not. The proof is in the pudding!

[Pete C]

I haven't the slightest idea what "spirituality" is.

[clinthopson]

Being a devout non-believer, I can only look at this as some new age hooha.

Music does speak to me emotionally and sometimes intellectually, but spiritually - eh.

[groover]

I usually appreciate a general sense of spirituality, as long as it doesn't become so specific as to feel exclusionary. As Gary pointed out, there's a lot of it in Reggae, some of which adds a certain feeling to the music, though some of the specific references I accept with discretion.

[rpcjazz]

That's why jazz is so wonderful. It's a refuge from the self-rightous. The spirituality of a John Coltrane or Duke Ellington piece, transcends ehtnic origins, regional differences, or any of the many established religous beliefs. Jazz can serve as a conduit to any concept of a higher being (if that's what your into) or can bring an inner peace to anyone fortunate enough to able to listen. We who have loved the music are indeed the most fortunate. Perhaps I'm prejudiced; can any other music be so meaningful?

[Dennis Gonzalez]

I've always spoken of Spirit in my music...it's one of the main reasons I play jazz. Those who don't believe the way I do, and even those who have no idea what I mean by Spirit or spirituality, still support what I do, and understand it, and it's fulfilling to me to play it, and I've been told many times how beautiful much of it is. That, to me, is where I interface with people...others have other terms for it, and I accept that. Many listeners respect and understand my music, and the Spirit in it, mainly because the vocabulary I use in my music is simple and straightforward. When I am able to incorporate the Spirit of an audience, or even take the enthusiasm of one understanding individual in the audience, it makes my music richer.

[Cem]

Great artists are, by definition, great conduits between the great known and the great unknown.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Yes, Cem. Exactly so. I am working on a handmade book at the moment, dedicated to Alice Coltrane, who had quite a handle on that "great unknown" you speak of. It is called Constellations, based on my wanting to understand her statement in her liner notes for Lord of Lords about the constellation Andromeda. About her song "Andromeda's Suffering", she says:

Andromeda is a supergalaxy in the Universe whose rays extend two billion times brighter and deeper than the light from the sun of our solar system. In the metagalactic cosmos, mighty Andromeda is the celestial, etheric heart in the great cosmic Body of the Lord. Inside the magnificent superstructure of spiraling stars, the suffering and sorrows of humanity burn brightly and profusely everyday, and are deeply felt with the heart of the dear Lord, At the coda point of this music, I can Hear the Lord’s voice as it spoke to me three years ago, saying, “Do you feel like suffering within my being everyday?".

I still ask myself just what exactly she means, what she understands that I don't.

A great artist, as you say, who was a great conduit between the great known and the great unknown.

[Gentle Giant]

I personally find it convenient to ignore the fact that Chick Corea is a Scientologist.

[Cem]

Dennis, I think both Alice and John Coltrane qualify. I just don't feel I can talk about why, beyond what I already said. I have to be sufficiently inebriated/stoned, before I can talk about this stuff. I just feel goofy talking about the unknown, taking huge leaps of faith and the skeptic in me has a hard time listening, without rolling my eyes. Sad, but true. I do respect folks, who have made their findings/connection to a greater entity, etc. work for themselves, though. What I mean is, they are true believers and they seem at peace. I admire that in some people.

[Ron Thorne]

Originally Posted by Gentle Giant

I personally find it convenient to ignore the fact that Chick Corea is a Scientologist.

I not only find it "convenient", I find it relevant.

[Gary Sisco]

It doesn't matter to me whether I know the musician's thoughts about these things or not. People are all different and their personal affairs are their own. What matters to me is whether I dig the music. Richard Thompson, my favorite rock guitarist and songwriter by far, is a Moslem, for example. What do I care. It's not like he's preaching in his songs. I'd been listening to him for many years before I even knew it, and nothing's changed in my regard for his music since I have.

If the thoughts are combined with an open politics I reject, it will change not what I hear but my desire to hear it or to further support the artist. This has happened a few times through the years.

[Bill Barton]

One of the interesting things so far in this thread is that some folks appear to be equating *spirituality* with *religion.*

As the posts by Dennis and Cem point out quite eloquently, it's not the same thing. In fact, in most cases in this modern world, the two are poles apart.

Attempting to define *spirituality* is like eating soup with a fork. In a way, I'm down with Pete C on the statement: "I haven't the slightest idea what 'spirituality' is."

Those of us with nontheistic or atheistic world views (and I'd put myself in this category) can be, and often are, just as *spiritual* as those of us who ascribe to an organized religion.

The bottom line is that *spirituality* is noncorporeal and Cem summed it up nicely by stating: "Great artists are, by definition, great conduits between the great known and the great unknown."

To address the original question, Lois, no, it doesn't affect me one way or the other if a musician is overt about *spirituality,* although - for me - the most spiritually uplifting music just is, it doesn't climb up on a soapbox.

[Vince Kargatis]

I think those puzzled by the concept of "spirituality" (including me) basically wonder how it differs from an emotional state, and why it might need distinguishing from an emotional state(s). For example, I have no trouble calling "feeling uplifted" an emotional state.

[ribot_for_president]

The bottom line is that *spirituality* is noncorporeal and Cem summed it up nicely by stating: "Great artists are, by definition, great conduits between the great known and the great unknown."

reminds me of a quote by santana about musicians simply being the vessel, the hose I think he said, that the music flows through.

[Pete C]

I embrace the unknown, but I find the amorphous concept of "spirituality" basically icky.

[groover]

Originally Posted by Pete C

I embrace the unknown, but I find the amorphous concept of "spirituality" basically icky.

Stick with something you can sink your teeth into, Pete, like pulled pork sandwiches.

[Gary Sisco]

Music is sound. If I dig the sound, I dig it. If I don't, I don't. What people read into or even intend by the sound doesn't change the sound itself.

[Noj]

Originally Posted by groover

Stick with something you can sink your teeth into, Pete, like pulled pork sandwiches.

A really good pulled pork sammich is a very mystical, if not highly spiritual, experience.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Originally Posted by Noj

A really good pulled pork sammich is a very mystical, if not highly spiritual, experience.

You ain't lyin', brother!

Now I'm hungry...

[Gary Sisco]

I won't eat pork. It ain't spiritual.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Originally Posted by Vince Kargatis

I think those puzzled by the concept of "spirituality" (including me) basically wonder how it differs from an emotional state, and why it might need distinguishing from an emotional state(s). For example, I have no trouble calling "feeling uplifted" an emotional state.

It's a hard thing to quantify and put into words, at least for me. But for me, it goes beyond emotion. It's another thang entirely. Sometimes it's learned from childhood, especially if one's parents speak of Spirit on a daily basis. In that case, the person is guided in the direction of recognizing and living in the Spiritual...looking for it. Sort of how some people's lives are enhanced by looking for the poetic, or the cinematic, in life. Sometimes it just comes on in a flash of recognition, such as the Buddhists feel when they reach enlightenment. I'm not saying that their enlightenment is on a Spiritual level, it's just an example of the way the "flash" works. And because it is Spirit, it's difficult to point at it and say, "Look, there it is...that's Spirit for you!" And some people are so familiar with it, that they can call it up at will...which is what Cecil Taylor alludes to in his "Sperichill on Calling."

The babalawos of Vodoun are intimate with Spirit, and their calling in this world is to interact with manifestations of Spirit, called Loas. They would tell you in a sec all about the Spiritual...something I have a difficult time describing to you using the wordsa I know.

[Noj]

Originally Posted by Gary Sisco

I won't eat pork. It ain't spiritual.

Pig's a filthy animal.

[Gary Sisco]

He'd have to be more charming than that motherfucking Arnold on tv.

[Jeffrey Wozniak]

Coltrane said it best:


A Love Supreme

I will do all I can to be worthy of Thee O Lord.
It all has to do with it.
Thank you God.
Peace.
There is none other.
God is. It is so beautiful.
Thank you God. God is all.
Help us to resolve our fears and weaknesses.
Thank you God.
In You all things are possible.
We know. God made us so.
Keep your eye on God.
God is. He always was. He always will be.
No matter what...it is God.
He is gracious and merciful.
It is most important that I know Thee.
Words, sounds, speech, men, memory, thoughts,
fears and emotions -- time all related...
all made from one...all made in one.
Blessed be His name.
Thought waves -- heat waves-all vibrations --
all paths lead to God. Thank you God.
His way...it is so lovely...it is gracious.
It is merciful -- thank you God.
One though can produce millions of vibrations
and they all go back to God...everything does.
Thank you God.
Have no fear...believe...thank you God.
The universe has many wonders. God is all.
His way...it is so wonderful.
Thoughts--deeds--vibrations, etc.
They all go back to God and He cleanses all.
He is gracious and merciful...thank you God.
Glory to God...God is so alive.
God is.
God loves.
May I be acceptable in Thy sight.
We are all one in His grace.
The fact that we do exist is acknowledgement
of Thee O Lord.
Thank you God.
God will wash away all our tears...
He always has...
He always will.
Seek Him everyday. In all ways seek God everyday.
Let us sing all songs to God.
To whoma all praise is due...praise God.
No road is an easy one, but they all
go back to God.
With all we share God.
It is all with God.
It is all with Thee.
Obey the Lord.
Blessed is He.
We are from one thing...the will of God...
thank you God.
I have seen Godd--I have seen ungodly--
none can be greater--none can compare to God.
Thank you God.
He will remake us...He always has and He
always will.
It is true--blessed be His name--thank you God.
God breathes through us so completely...
so gently we hardly feel it...yet,
it is our everything.
Thank you God.
ELATION--ELEGANCE--EXALTATION--
All from God.
Thank you God. Amen.

[Gary Sisco]

The fact that he felt it necessary to use words makes my point about music.

[Bill Barton]

Originally Posted by Gary Sisco

The fact that he felt it necessary to use words makes my point about music.

Yes indeed, Gary, either the music reaches you or it doesn't - period. I think I'll pass on the pork sandwiches as well as the Jarrett concerts...

[clinthopson]

Originally Posted by Noj

Pig's a filthy animal.

This is an ugly statement by those who have no appreciation for the noble porcine's great qualities.

And, furthermore, they are only dirty when farmers put them in muddy pens. Actually in the proper environment, they are quite clean and tidy.