Shomari's Cultural Outsider Playlist

 November 14, 2023

 The style of music that this blog highlights is jazz music in America, which is characterizes by numerous improvised melodies and syncopated rhythms. Many see Jazz as a safe space for creativity, which I think is the main reason for its popularity. While this is true, even jazz has its own unique and intrinsic formulas that are "usually" followed. Hopefully this will be seen throughout this presentation.

I'd like to open this playlist up with none other than a man that influenced even the greats. His name was Buddy Bolden, the man who played jazz before it was jazz. Charles Buddy Bolden, or "King" Bolden, was born September 1877 in New Orleans, Louisiana. A place widely regarded as the birthplace of jazz. I can try to describe his playing style as loud and confident, but I think that this quote by Michael Ondaatje said it best. "We thought he was formless, but I think now he was tormented by order, what was outside it. He tore apart the plot see his music was immediately on top of his own life. Echoing. As if, when he was playing, he was lost and hunting for the right accidental notes." Although there are no found recordings of his actual playing Buddy Bolden's name still carried weight in the jazz community. You see, his name was used as a way of explaining that which was inexplicable. That raw and uniquely human emotion behind jazz that influenced people like Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone, and Duke Ellington. Now without further ado, here are some questions I would ask Buddy Bolden (a cultural insider) followed by a recording of "Hey Buddy Bolden" written by Duke Ellington and sung by Nina Simone.

1. How did you overcome the struggle of deciding between creativity and commerciality?

2. What Made you choose the cornet over the more popular instruments at the time? (Piano, Voice)

Now that we've touched on Mr. Bolden, I'd like to enter more familiar territory. Louis Armstrong or "Satchmo" was supposedly born August 4th, 1901, and went on to have a successful career for more than five decades. Like Bolden, he also grew up in New Orleans where he was exposed to a large variety of music, but ultimately decided on jazz. He was not only a seasoned trumpeter, but also a phenomenal vocalist, famous for his timely placed scats and husky yet rich vocal tones. Armstrong said that he was only 6 the first time he had heard Buddy Bolden play, but distinctly remembers dancing along to his music, after claiming that he was "way too good for his time". Here are a few questions I would ask him and a recording of "La vie en rose" which I think highlights both his voice and playing ability.

1. How influential do you think someone like Buddy Bolden was on your decision to try and transform jazz from just an ensemble work to a "soloist's art".

2. With so many things going on during the early 1900s in New Orleans, what caused you to choose jazz?

I mentioned earlier Nina Simone (Eunice Waymon), another notable jazz artist famous for her soulful voice, and powerful undertones. In relation to Bolden, she was born a few years after his death so I'm sure his influence wasn't as prevalent in her music as it was with Armstrong, despite her singing a song of tribute to him. In fact, like I mentioned earlier she sang "Hey Buddy Bolden" based off of the song Duke Ellington wrote. Unlike the first two artist, she started out on the piano where she grew up playing in church, like many other jazz musicians. Strangely, she actually aspired to be a concert pianist, but her dreams were shortly shut down by what she claimed to be "racial prejudice". Later on, she showcased her true abilities at a nightclub located in Atlantic city, New Jersey, where she first demonstrated her playing ability and later implemented her vocal expertise. Even there however, her classical prowess was showcased through her use of Bach-style counterpoint, and Romantic piano repertoire. Because of her "multi-instrumental" abilities, I've chosen two songs to highlight her style of jazz. Those being "Feeling Good" and "My Baby Just Cares for Me". If I had the chance, I would probably ask her the following:

1. What influenced you to influence others through not just your music, but in how you saw the world?

2. Did your classical background open up doors for other opportunities, besides jazz?