Jazz Adjacent: The four-letter word.
An infrequent newsletter about the music played on air & life.
In hindsight, I should've begun this endeavor earlier, but there's no better moment than the present.
I've been sharing the music of artists I deeply admire and fangirl over for years, mostly through social media and the airwaves. You can find the links to my 2 radio shows (UK & France) here. However, I've recently come to the realization that it's high time I extend beyond these platforms. Archiving, as it turns out, can be quite a laborious process, but if I don't start documenting the radio shows I've been editorializing for years (over 10 years to be exact), when will I ever get to it?
Third culture individual.
(if you don’t know what that is here is a picture)
As a Black woman, born into a heritage deeply rooted in Black America and raised in the iconic 'laissez-faire' streets of Paris, I recognize that my dual culture offers a unique perspective. It undoubtedly differs from the predominantly White male-dominated media landscape in the world of Jazz. The contours of Black American culture have often been shaped by individuals who are not my peers.
A four-letter word.
The question of what Jazz represents today is a hot topic that has sparked debates, countless papers, hours of podcasts, and numerous panels dedicated to its exploration. For many Black American artists like myself and those of Black descent, Jazz isn't just a genre; it's our heritage, our culture, our classical music, our magic, our language forged over centuries of resilience. For millions around the world, it serves as a universal language of freedom, a genre that seamlessly blends with all heritages and cultures. It's also a symbol of musical excellence and, pardon my frankness, a remarkable brand. I mean, just think about the number of Jazz festivals worldwide.
I'm not here to engage in that debate.
I'm not a scholar.
I'm a high school dropout, educated by the lessons of life on the road.
What I DO see and witness is the EXPANSIVE world of 'Jazz Adjacent' music.
Every day, my ears are captivated by new audio art created by countless talented souls, and my aim is to do my best to share that love right here.
Here is a “Jazz Adjacent” selection that I did during the EFG London Jazz Festival. Celebrating Blue Note Records with an interview of Joshua Redman & Gabrielle Cavassa who happened to pop by the The Boat Pod. Playlist is below.
Music is love so keep on sharing the love
-cm