Keith Jarrett is white?
If you are not from the US, you would probably find it almost impossible to comprehend any discussion about Keith Jarrett's race. Until reading a Wikipedia article about him the other day, I had always assumed Keith Jarrett is black.
Of course, the actual color of Keith Jarrett's skin is basically white, but in the US that means nothing. Barack Obama is, of course, black, despite the fact that his mother is white. That alone reflects a racist legacy in even the way Americans (both white and black) determine race. But that's apparently not relevant here.
Aside from his skin color, Keith Jarrett looks black: He's got an Afro and a fairly distinct nose. But this is immaterial compared to how Keith plays: Keith plays black.
Huh?
If you've grown up with Jazz, you tend to think of white players (even great white players) as operating largely within the genre and not doing tons to push the boundaries outward. It's a comfortable relationship with your world and it can give rise to some beautiful work by great players. Think: Dave Brubeck, Chet Baker, Paul Motion and so on.
But the best black Jazz players always pushed against the defined boundaries of their time: Pops, Dizzy, Bird, Trane, Miles, Wayne...they all were masters inside their genre but also bucked against its' limits and thereby expanded them.
Keith Jarrett is very clearly in this latter category: Not only does he kind of look African American, he evinces that clear trait of the greats insofar as his best work is impossible to qualify or categorize. It is fully aware of the developments within the genre and also pulls in ideas and approaches that were previously considered outside. In this sense, if you grew up exposed to the Jazz tradition, it becomes very natural to think of Keith Jarrett as black (and aside from the innovation piece, he clearly can play in a way that sounds black).
I was therefore both amused and not particularly surprised to read that: a) Keith Jarrett claims to be completely white and b) no less than Ornette Coleman expressed doubt at Keith's declaration of whiteness. Hilarious! And perfectly understandable.
Indeed, despite reading that Keith Jarrett is technically white (at least according to Keith), I won't really be able to change my conception of him as black, or at least partially so.
Of course, the actual color of Keith Jarrett's skin is basically white, but in the US that means nothing. Barack Obama is, of course, black, despite the fact that his mother is white. That alone reflects a racist legacy in even the way Americans (both white and black) determine race. But that's apparently not relevant here.
Aside from his skin color, Keith Jarrett looks black: He's got an Afro and a fairly distinct nose. But this is immaterial compared to how Keith plays: Keith plays black.
Huh?
If you've grown up with Jazz, you tend to think of white players (even great white players) as operating largely within the genre and not doing tons to push the boundaries outward. It's a comfortable relationship with your world and it can give rise to some beautiful work by great players. Think: Dave Brubeck, Chet Baker, Paul Motion and so on.
But the best black Jazz players always pushed against the defined boundaries of their time: Pops, Dizzy, Bird, Trane, Miles, Wayne...they all were masters inside their genre but also bucked against its' limits and thereby expanded them.
Keith Jarrett is very clearly in this latter category: Not only does he kind of look African American, he evinces that clear trait of the greats insofar as his best work is impossible to qualify or categorize. It is fully aware of the developments within the genre and also pulls in ideas and approaches that were previously considered outside. In this sense, if you grew up exposed to the Jazz tradition, it becomes very natural to think of Keith Jarrett as black (and aside from the innovation piece, he clearly can play in a way that sounds black).
I was therefore both amused and not particularly surprised to read that: a) Keith Jarrett claims to be completely white and b) no less than Ornette Coleman expressed doubt at Keith's declaration of whiteness. Hilarious! And perfectly understandable.
Indeed, despite reading that Keith Jarrett is technically white (at least according to Keith), I won't really be able to change my conception of him as black, or at least partially so.
posted by Em at 9:23 PM
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