Wynton at Harvard, Chapter 19: Jazz Improvisation as Democratic Discourse

Delve into Wynton Marsalis's six-part Harvard University lecture series, covering a range of topics including jazz, what it means to be American, and the importance of cultural literacy and the arts in the liberal arts education.
XIX. Jazz Improvisation as Democratic Discourse
In this chapter, Wynton highlights communication in blues improvisation.
Go to jazz.org/wyntonatharvard for the complete series.
"Hidden in Plain View: Meanings in American Music" is a series of six lectures delivered at Harvard University between 2011 and 2014 sponsored by the Office of the President and Provost. The inaugural lecture, “Music as Metaphor,” was delivered in Sanders Theatre to a capacity crowd. It is an interpretation of the many unobserved symbols in American music and an investigation into how they illuminate the democratic process.
It covers many of the fundamental devices, forms, and songs that bind the different Americas together at the root. It is Marsalis's contention that "'Me vs. You' and 'Us vs. Y'all'-vs. 'All of Us'-remains the struggle at the heart of humankind and the central debate of our Constitution. How do we achieve a common ground when individual victories are so much more valued? This conundrum has been resolved harmoniously in our musical arts for more than a century. Under the vibrant din of our democracy, on the lower frequencies, sonic metaphors speak to and for us all. What they tell us about what it means to be American could serve us well in these divisive and uncivil times."
Performances by Marsalis's ensemble (with special guest, the iconic fiddler Mark O'Connor) punctuate the lecture with musical explanations.
Mark O’Connor - fiddle
Walter Blanding - reeds
James Chirillo - guitar
Dan Nimmer - piano
Carlos Henriquez - bass
Ali Jackson - drums
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[@ThePclayton]

I don’t see how the audience could sit so still without hardly even an head nod during such cool and excellent music.

[@booqueworme]

That's a great lecture and a great performance. I don't understand why there is no comments here yet.

[@tyjc15]

Was just wondering the same, and why there is there not a million plus views

[@TimSchmidt_art]

I just discoverd this today and I'm watching all the chapters...unbelievably cool and entertaining. My goodness...

[@Chrissepisje]

I just ripped through 19 of these in one sitting. Just found them. Although it's not surprising to see Wynton Marsalis doing this, I had to think back to him frequenting the Ken Burns jazz documentaries for PBS.

[@raybergstrom]

I've been watching a few of these a day for the past week or so. This is a treasure!

[@davidpayne3670]

Profoundly intelligent, moving and wonderful. Only Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Jazz Orchestra could have done it. David P

[@Gongasoso]

Playing continously from 3:00 till sunrise... Damn

[@steveogden5774]

Different tradition but I was at a dance where the band played one tune "Roger de Coverley" for five hours and the dancers danced it for the same time and when we had to end we all wished we could have gone on longer.

[@wirium]

Great night and musicians. Wynton is🔥🔥🔥 Amazing lecture series!!! Sounds so good...gonna watch it entirely!

[@vaniasetti7753]

Precious priceless lecture, metaphors, expression, pure artistic musical joy! Thank you so much! Love every word, sound, moment! 🙏👏🏻🙏👏🏻🙏👏🏻🙏

[@cynthiamerkey1101]

This is a wonderful series even though some in the audience seem to not get it.

[@christophehovine3773]

Superb concept to listen to a great performance and being educated at the same time ! Like it !

[@gerardpequignot3116]

Les interprétations sont vraiment d'une finesse avec un style de perfectionnisme étonnant.

[@manonthebrain]

History ties us all together no matter what we consider our bodies to be. It's what inside that counts 🤙🏻

[@VimalPerera-hd8fr]

All Maestros‼️‼️👏 Never a Dull Moment zz‼️ 5:45

[@daveyewart4289]

love the guitar changes . masterful

[@modernmusicofthedarkages296]

Why does the guitarist also really DOES look like a Jazz guitarist? They're so good!

[@timzorich7632]

Masters of their respective crafts!

[@apoclypse]

That guitarist is staring at the fiddler like he were lunch.

[@fermatreturns1008]

Oh dear - I was thinking about that Hannibal Lecture scene, where he boasts of eating that guy's liver with fava beans.,.. 😲 They are both amazing musicians, let us not think such things. Besides, I wouldn't want to upset the guitarist... just in case.

[@malinstella6965]

What if we had a Wynton Marsalis in each state teaching music and music history. It probably would eliminate some of the hate.

[@stratocastro]

Such a good idea - looking at the musician you want to hear the answer from)))

[@alexkratochvil2952]

What I would give to play a tune with Wynton

[@thomasdietz852]

Pure Swing

[@jackdavidson9231]

kanker mooi