Gypsy Jazz Perspectives: The Art Form and its Socio/Political Implications
Presented
by
SUAZHN FIERING
WEBINAR OVERVIEW
A research presentation from the
2021 JENX Online Conference
Gypsy Jazz music today is an ever-growing, worldwide phenomenon, realized by resurgence from both musicians and fans alike. Like American Jazz, its history is steeped in the desire to rise above social conflict, economic hardship, discrimination, and pain. It is flowered by the influence of many cultures from many continents and blossomed by the individual uniqueness of expression.
Gypsy Jazz is most commonly associated with the Belgian born guitarist-composer Django Reinhardt, who rose to Fame in Paris after the 2nd World War. It is often associated with a romanticized view of French culture. As American jazz evolved and matured, influenced by events on the western side of the Atlantic, like a little sibling tagging behind, jazz began to evolve on the eastern side of the Atlantic. The cultural connection is undeniable. Without American Jazz, there would be no Gypsy Jazz, and in return, America has embraced the Franco-European influence with open arms, particularly the era which gave birth to Gypsy Jazz.
The story of Gypsy Jazz is important to tell, not only because of its historical impact but because of the remarkable celebration between not only the US and France but across the globe. It is fun and fascinating to look at how historical events have affected the music.
From a historical perspective, Gypsy Jazz is spurned from a metamorphosis from caravans and bonfires, to the clubs of Paris, to the Gypsy genocide in the 2nd World War, to the reconstruction of Europe, and the African American influence. There are many collaborators and cultures involved in its evolution.
Gypsy Jazz has slightly different instrumentation, rhythmic, and basic harmonic structures, and many similarities and differences, to the Great American Songbook.
This presentation is sponsored by the Nashville Gypsy Jazz & Django Festival – 9/21.
ABOUT SUZAHN FIERING
Suzahn Fiering is an internationally renowned touring artist, successful songwriter, accomplished vocalist and guitarist, award-winning educator, and the Executive Director of the Nashville Gypsy Jazz & Django Festival. Suzahn performs and teaches at festivals, clubs, concert halls, house concerts, and universities worldwide including the Copenhagen Jazz Festival, The Birmingham Jazz (UK) Festival, The Marbella Jazz Festival, to name only a few. “Suzahn‘s music is an elegant entrée into a romantic world of dazzling virtuosity; smoky-smooth vocals, impressive jazz guitar work, masterful scatting, critically acclaimed originals and unique interpretations of jazz classics. Suzahn delivers all this intertwined with tidbits of jazz history and clever wit.” -Jazzreview Magazine. Sir Paul McCartney presented Suzahn with the “Honored Friend Award”, at the Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts, where she is a guest instructor, after the pair co-hosted educational fundraising events together in the US. Suzahn has original songs in over 40 network television shows and independent films played in over 40 countries along with 4 songs in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC, and 2 in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Suzahn worked as an engineer and producer with 4-time Grammy Winner Richard Adler for almost a decade, in Nashville, TN, and is a veteran of MCA Music Publishing, RCA Records, and Gibson Musical Instruments. Suzahn’s critically acclaimed CD, “Paris Without His Kiss”, which was heralded as a sonic masterpiece. Suzahn hails from New York City and is a long-time resident of Nashville, TN, where she teaches privately, writes songs for a number of different music publishers and gigs, and tours regularly playing Jazz and Gypsy, Americana, Blues, and many original compositions. Suzahn sings in French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.
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