Is jazz intrinsically left-wing? Judging by the JJ inbox, it’s a question that many might think doesn’t need asking. It certainly seems a frequent assumption, often unspoken but evident from actions or positions taken. And jazz has long been associated – by political activists and some musicians – with civil rights, equality and other nominally left-wing concerns.
In any event, it seems one group of musicians might lean towards the left-wing stereotype when they play a fundraising concert for Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris in New York this Sunday. Harris has often been characterised as a socialist, not least by Elon Musk, who went further and said on X “Kamala is quite literally a communist. She wants not merely equal opportunity, but equal outcomes.”
Le Poisson Rouge, NYC will be host at 7pm on 20 October to a group featuring such seasoned campaigners as Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ron Carter, Joshua Redman, Christian McBride, Robert Glasper, Joe Lovano, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Kenny Barron and Al Foster, who’ll present a concert entitled Jazz for Kamala. Tickets begin at $100 and are available at jazzforkamala.com. All proceeds will benefit the Harris Victory Fund.
For insight into the event’s ethos, we might turn to a statement by the organisers’ publicist, Lydia Liebman: “Jazz for Kamala is the sixth in the series of election-cycle concerts produced by the Jazz for America’s Future team dating back to 2004. These historic occasions provide an opportunity for the jazz community to unite in promotion of our values and to encourage political engagement more generally.
“In addition to raising significant funds for the Democratic Party presidential nominee, they bring masters of the art form together across generations to create improvised music of the highest caliber. This year’s event will surely be an unforgettable evening. The future of our nation and the world are at stake, and all the artists involved are moved to play their hearts out for this most vital cause.”
On the other side of the coin – possibly the party political one – many may remember trumpeter Al Porcino’s infamous rant against critics, misrepresentation and positive discrimination to Don Manning on KBOO FM in 1992. Apoplectic, he declaims “It’s a joke and a disgrace, what goes on in this jazz business,” and declares repeatedly that he’s determined to fight on for his neglected minority. Although a star who played with Tommy Dorsey, Gene Krupa, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton and more, it seems likely, had he lived beyond 2013, he wouldn’t be among the invitees this Sunday.