Blog #4: Art and Community

Thelonious Monk's San Juan Hill community helped to shape his genius because it provided the inspiration of being an interesting anomaly interspersed with diversity and conflict on its own. San Juan Hill was a very unpredictable community and every block was different. It was renown for its racial tensions, riots, and violence (Kelley 101-2). This is what some mean by "Jazz is New York, man!" because the music is contained within the city and the city is contained in the music. Monk's music in particular had a lot of dissonance, which can be thought of as the conglomeration of all the dissimilar elements of San Juan Hill as well as its musical styles. In this way, his music was able to transcend the dialectical black and white categories of racism and classism and provide a musical sanctuary that was nurturing to everyone. The relationship of jazz to the community in Leimert Park is similar in that the violence and racial tensions paved the way for African-American expression to emerge in the form of art. It was different, however, in the sense that the art that emerged created the community of Leimert Park by bringing people together in the performance and appreciation of jazz, such as the innovative musical component of Dick's coffee shop on 5the street, The World Theatre's dance and musical performances, and the African-American art museum. After the establishment of these businesses that promote diversity of art, music, and dance, a bustling community formed in Leimert Park that was barren before (Stewart 3/26/15). Thus, the relationship between art and the communities in which jazz musicians grow up/perform in, directly influence and shape each other, whether it be the slave labor on the rhythm and tensions in the work song or the race riots on the chaos and disharmony of bebop. The only element that seems to be dependent on the musician is what is chosen to be expressed. 

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Commented on Anna's blog

I like how you summarized and pinpointed the connection of art and community in both the Leimert park film and the music of Thelonious Monk with your last paragraph. Especially the last bit, in which you show that the causal forces later add to each other in their development as a "continuum". Great job!