"The Complexity of Defining Jazz" colloquium at Northern Arizona University, March 31, 2016

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ABSTRACT of "The Complexity of Defining Jazz" by Dr. David C. Ring and Dr. Charles Otwell

At a colloquium at Northern Arizona University (in Flagstaff, AZ) at the Black Box Theater (Bldg. 23) from 3:45 pm until 5:30 pm followed by a jazz jam session, Dr. David C. Ring and Dr. Charles Otwell from Orange Coast College (in Costa Mesa, CA) propose a new conception for defining jazz. This new conception is the Galactic model of jazz. Ring and Otwell begin by clarifying the nature of understanding and definition that they utilize when defining jazz. The Galactic model was inspired by Paul Rinzler's core conception of jazz explained in his book, The Contradictions of Jazz (2008). The Galactic model claims to be an improvement over Rinzler's core model while staying true to Rinzler's main conceptions. At the center of most galaxies in the astronomical universe rests a supermassive black hole around which all objects orbit or are influenced in their motion and place in the universe. In the Galactic model for jazz, the supermassive black hole at the heart of jazz is constituted by the three pillars of jazz: (1) hybridization and synthesis of the European diatonic with the African pentatonic musical scales, (2) syncopation, which subsumes swing, and (3) improvisation (concurrent composition and performance by same person). Each of the three pillars are explained and examples provided by Otwell on the piano. The motivation for these pillars constituting the heart of jazz is justified. The talk concludes by showing how the Galactic model of jazz accounts for many features found throughout jazz's 125 year old history.